Cradle of the Armed Forces

The Chung-cheng Armed Forces Preparatory School is the cradle of the armed forces of the Republic of China. During their three-year course at the school, young cadets receive regular high school education as well as military training. Systematic drilling in an environment conducive to learning helps students to cultivate the virtues of wisdom, perseverance and ability to fit in with the group.

With the largest campus, number of students and teaching staff, plus the smallest class size, the Chung-cheng Armed Forces Preparatory School also serves as a model for all senior high schools in the Republic of China.

On either side of the auditorium known as the Chung Cheng Hall, are a science hall and library.

Foundation: Students at the school, founded by the Ministry of Defense in 1976, enter the Chinese Military, Air Force or Navy Academies or the Political Warfare College after their graduation. There they receive advanced military training and regular college education to enable them to become military officers in the Republic of China.

Before they are accepted by the school, students must pass physical and IQ tests. Their IQ must be at least 90, or in the case of those entering the Air Force section, at least 100.

Apart from free room and board, uniforms, books and stationery, students receive pocket money each month and a stipend of NT$700 (US$19.50) each semester.

Chung-cheng Armed Forces Preparatory School is the cradle of the armed forces in the Republic of China. The school recruits students with strong stamina, scholastic achievements and high IQs. Besides receiving regular high-school education, the students are specially trained in physical buildup and to adapt to group life.

Facilities: The school campus, located at Fengshan in Kaohsiung County, covers an area of 74 hectares. Dormitories and classrooms are situated side-by-side to cut to a minimum the distance between academic and social life. Each grade has 40 classes, with about 30 students to each class. The total number of students at the school is therefore almost 4,000.

The students receive the same classroom education as in ordinary high schools, except that they are not subject to pressure from having to take the college entrance examination. Teachers place equal emphasis on experiments and theory. As an English teacher said: "The students here are quicker to respond and more enthusiastic to participate in discussions than those in regular high schools."

The auditorium, Chun Cheng Hall, is flanked by a science hall and a library. The science hall is furnished with the most up-to-date facilities and appliances for students taking part in laboratory courses in physics, chemistry and biology. The open-shelf library has a collection of some 30,000 books and magazines, and is open in the evenings. A xerox machine is installed in the library.

English language laboratory courses are provided for students in seven classrooms equipped with tape recorders and earphones. Those majoring in mechanical science may take preliminary courses in computer science. Students are allowed to operate computers installed in the school.

In biology class, a teacher instructs students how to operate an electron microscope.

Experiment: As the students do not have to take the college entrance examination, they have been selected to take part in experimental courses in science education. First, freshmen are required to take three of the four courses on basic science including physics, chemistry, biology and geophysics. If they decide to major in social science in the second grade, they will have some basic knowledge of natural science.

To bridge the gap between students having different IQs, the school undertook several experiments since it was founded four years ago. In the first year, students were merely divided into classes according to their academic achievements. Teachers soon found, however, that they were having difficulty in meeting the needs of students at different intelligence levels.

In the second year therefore, students were grouped according to the subjects in which they showed the most aptitude. As they all used the same textbooks and took the same examinations whatever their academic standards, the result was still not satisfactory.

Further changes in the third year involved the compilation of new teaching materials and setting different examinations for low-IQ pupils. This proved to be unfair to the more scholastically advanced students, however.

In an attempt to overcome all the shortcomings at once, therefore, it was decided in the fourth year to give more class hours to slow-learning students. This method has enabled teachers to meet the needs of students at all levels. If a student is found to be unsuitable for military officer training, however, he is advised to enter another school.

Students in the chemistry lab.

Principal: Maj. Gen. Chou Shih-ping, the principal, has made one of the biggest contributions to the school's high standards. He conducted in-depth research into soldiers' psychology when he was majoring in military science at a West German academy.

Besides encouraging bright students, the principal always spares time to interview those whose scholastic record is below average or deteriorates suddenly. He said that it is not fair to upbraid students without finding out why they are falling behind first. In face-to-face discussions, the students are always frank in confessing their problems. Most of the time, they admit that they need to study harder. The principal points out that most of them keep their promise to try to improve.

When some 20 students failed to pass their final examinations and had to stay for another year in the school, a "self-reliance activity" was held for them at Cheng Ching Lake near Kaohsiung. The principal and teachers spent two weeks with the students camping, swimming and organizing barbecues. In this friendly atmosphere, the teachers could help them to rebuild their confidence, and patiently guide them in their studies.

The principal is open-minded. He does not prohibit students from having girlfriends because he believes this helps to bring them to maturity.

4. A student in the English laboratory.

Sports: As well as academic standards, the CAFPS attaches great importance to students' physical development, because only strong soldiers can make a strong nation.

The school's sports facilities include 29 basketball courts, 24 volleyball courts, two gridirons, football fields, baseball diamonds, and tennis courts each, four swimming pools, three gymnasiums, a skating rink and a 400-meter world-standard running track.

Every student must take part in sports during the eighth class each day. After three years of training, every student must be able to swim at least 100 meters and run a 3,000-meter course in 16 minutes.

3. CAFPS has opened a preliminary computer course.

Clubs: The CAFPS has the largest number of clubs of all the high school in the Republic of China. The aim in establishing these clubs is to help the students adapt to group life, to add interest to the daily routine, to promote solidarity and progress, and to cultivate leadership qualities and willingness to obey orders.

As in the case of sports, every student is encouraged to take part in at least one kind of group activity. Every club is a miniature society with a director and vice director appointed to organize and plan programs.

The 31 clubs are grouped in four categories--academic, including those devoted to world affairs and literature research; arts and photography; recreational such as the martial music band; and sports, such as tennis and skating.

Through their participation in these clubs, the students develop an interest in hobbies and handicrafts.

In addition, scholars and specialist are invited to deliver lectures on current affairs, philosophy of life, democratic politics, and other subjects, to reinforce the students' ideological education.

Students are free to consult books in an open-shelf library.

Welfare: The school hospital is installed with divisions of internal medicine, surgery, ear, nose and throat, X-ray and others.

In addition, a consultative group has been established on the second floor of the library to help students overcome psychological problems. As a teacher in the group said: "We have handled 350 cases in the past two years. Most of the students encounter such problems as difficulty in adapting to group life, in catching up with the scholastic schedule, in finding girlfriends or in pursuing their future careers. We are happy to provide timely assistance to them."

Every dormitory has a recreation center, which is equipped with color TV, hi-fi stereo set, a table-tennis table, several kinds of musical instruments, chess games, journals and newspapers.

Some college-graduate reserve officers call in at the study room in the dormitory to help students overcome academic problems. A nutrition research group of the department of biochemistry of the National Defense Medical College has prepared a menu which provides a balanced diet for the students.

Free movies are shown every Saturday and Sunday in a 3,000-seat auditorium. Concerts and operas are regularly staged in what is the highest building in Fengshan.

Through the assiduous instruction of a 210-member school faculty, early education for the armed forces of the Republic of China is established on a firm basis.

Members of the boxing club in a sparring match. The referee is also a student.

[Picture Caption]

1 & 3. Chung-cheng Armed Forces Preparatory School is the cradle of the armed forces in the Republic of China. The school recruits students with strong stamina, scholastic achievements and high IQs. Besides receiving regular high-school education, the students are specially trained in physical buildup and to adapt to group life. 2. On either side of the auditorium known as the Chung Cheng Hall, are a science hall and library.

1. In biology class, a teacher instructs students how to operate an electron microscope. 2. Students in the chemistry lab. 3. CAFPS has opened a preliminary computer course. 4. A student in the English laboratory. 5. Students are free to consult books in an open-shelf library.

1. Members of the boxing club in a sparring match. The referee is also a student. 2. The kendo team of CAFPS is the largest in the country. 3. & 4. Students running and jumping on a world standard athletics track. 5. Swimming is another important sporting activity sponsored by CAFPS.

1. A corner of the physical training room. 2. The Taekwondo team. 3. Students sing on their way to the dining hall. 4. On the monthly birthday celebration, students are served with green bean soup, fruit, ice cream and soft drinks besides main dish. 5. Principal Chou Shih-ping (in uniform) personally chairs a birthday party.

1 & 2. The painting and violin clubs. 3. & 4. A hospital in the campus of CAFPS provides students with the best medicare. 5. A teacher with specialized training is seen working out psychological problems for a student.

1. Ler Chun Building accommodates a snack bar and a billiard room. 2 & 3. The recreation center adjoining the dormitory is a comfortable place for students to watch TV, engage in conversation and play chess and other games. 4. The neat and clean arrangement of bedding in the dormitory. 5. A corner of the campus. 6. A night view of the Chung Chen Hall.

The kendo team of CAFPS is the largest in the country.

Students running and jumping on a world standard athletics track.

Students running and jumping on a world standard athletics track.

Swimming is another important sporting activity sponsored by CAFPS.

A corner of the physical training room.

The Taekwondo team.

Students sing on their way to the dining hall.

On the monthly birthday celebration, students are served with green bean soup, fruit, ice cream and soft drinks besides main dish.

Principal Chou Shih-ping （in uniform） personally chairs a birthday party.

Every Saturday afternoon, the school organizes club activities for students. The Art Club and the Violin Club are two of them.

The painting and violin clubs.

A hospital in the campus of CAFPS provides students with the best medicare.

A hospital in the campus of CAFPS provides students with the best medicare.

A teacher with specialized training is seen working out psychological problems for a student.

Ler Chun Building accommodates a snack bar and a billiard room.

The recreation center adjoining the dormitory is a comfortable place for students to watch TV, engage in conversation and play chess and other games.

The recreation center adjoining the dormitory is a comfortable place for students to watch TV, engage in conversation and play chess and other games.

The neat and clean arrangement of bedding in the dormitory.

A corner of the campus.

A night view of the Chung Chen Hall.