TOO MUCH MATERIALISM

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 210, 6 September 1927, Page 10

TOO MUCH MATERIALISM

EDUCATION IN NEW ZEALAND.

IDEALISM IGNORED.

CRUMBLING MORAL FOUNDATION

"Are we, by our education system, laying the foundations for a really great nation, because it will not be long before New Zealand has to regard herself as a nation f asked the Rev. D. C. Herron, president of the Auckland Council of Christian Congregations, at the council's annual meeting last evening- In a brief address on the results of the education system of the Dominion, he said the materialistic training given for many years was now beginning to leave its impress upon the youth of this country.

Continuing, Mr. Herron said that it was by ideals and. character that the Dominion must aspire to become a great nation.- , Cultural subjects were not esteemed as highly as utilitarian subjects at the present time. The university year by year was increasing the ways by which' scientific degrees might be won, but, at the same time, while practically the whole of the Christian church recognised that there should be instituted degrees in theology, and the request 'was strongly backed *' by the Commission which eat recently to inquire into the education system, apparently the authorities were going "to ignore the demand for a university coarse in theology. It, was an indication) of the amount, of value -placed-upon- the' ideal-, istic ride of education. Scientific educa tion deserved encouTa«enient, arid ther<» was nothing to be said aaairist it, except that, when-given: at the expense of f he idealistic side, it? was at too high a cost. ' .. . ■ .

Morally, eoncleded Mr. Herron, New Zealand was' building _on a crumbling foundation. . Unless an adequate sanction for a'high code of morals was.given.to the generation growing np, a great race *ould not be built. It was imoossible that a" purely materialistic education wuld fumreh eufficient indications of- th«i value of doing Ti«rht. •