Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1901.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5455, 26 August 1901, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1901.

We h»ve on several occasions pointed out the advantages that would accrue to tho community at large if the study of political economy and social 6cience were included in the public school curriculum. Every fresh development in the* public and private concerns of tho people confirms this view, and wo are astonished that a determintd effort baa not long ago been made to bring about this much desired reform. Questions regarding tho public well being are continually coming to the front, bat owing to the general ignorance about the matters affected, the masses have little or nothing to say in dealing with them. It is, wo think, quite Btfe to assort that not one per cent of the population of the Bri'ish Empire posscs3 more than the merest smattering of knowledge upon sanitary matters, or upon tbe science of Government; Of what use sre the. researches of students, the experience of statesmen, or the object lessons of the past, to the great masses of the ppople who have never been taught how greatly these subjects are interwoven with their health, happiness, and prosperity ? Those who arc opposed to the enlightenment of the masses on these questions which more than all others sffect their well being in life, ire no true friends of tho people and should not be allowed to delay the expausion of universal knowledge, which ie professedly aimed at by our system of public instruction,. Why is one of the most important subjects connected with national prosperity, namely, tbe science of Government, carefully barred from our public school syllabus ? How is it that notwithstanding the number of years which have elapssd since representative government was given to New Zealand, there in just as much ignorance amongst the people at large concerning tfaa functions and obligations of Government, as there was half a century ago \ The extraordinary simplicity of tha masses on these points might well strike one with astonislbment, did we not knowthatit is the peculiarity of the bulk

of human beings to adapt themselves to the circumstances surrounding them, rather than to trouble themselves about any attempt at improvement. That is, .<•>! course, why (he cauee for the existing condittoa^ }s not understood, and it is precisely tfae position with re^Brd to politic? in New Zealand. The masses can only bo influenced by a few burning questions, and are not interested in the discussions which are every now and then got up between small sections of politicians rather, better informed than the majority concerning public aflUirs. In point of fact the great body of the electors are content to leave everything in the hands

of the heads of this or that party, and—like the rank and file of their representatives—to surrender their right of private judgment. Let us insist upon every pnpil in our public schools being fully instructed in the fundamental principles which hold society together, which regulate our privileges and maintain our rights as free born men and women, And they j will make better citizens than they are likely to make now, when a great proportion of their school time is taken j up studying such subjects as Latin, Algebra, singing, drawing, wood carving &c. These are all excellent things j in their way, but the education of the \ masses Bhould be practical, and should i fit the rising generation to take an! immediate share im the business of life when they become men and women,