LEADERS NEEDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 85, 11 April 1938, Page 8

LEADERS NEEDED.

TRAINING OF YOUTH.

IS EDUCATION AT FAULT? RHODES SCHOLARS' CAREERS A strong indictment of modern education and a suggestion that there should be a return to the essentials of classical training, were points made by a former American headmaster, Professor Samuel F. Holmes, who was a passenger on the luxury liner Reliance which arrived at Auckland this morning. He recently resigned from the headmastership of Worcester College in the State of Massachusetts after 3-1 years' educational experience.

'"[ think the people arc gradually realising that education must provide leaders," hp said. "The system must iind the young people />f promise and give them the right training to enable them to shape and guide our policies in the future. There docs not appear to be anything seriously wrong with the material offering, but some of the young people have had a pretty tough time in recent years. After gaining university degrees many have had to take almost any kind of work for a bare living, and have become absorbed in the 'lost generation' of those who missed their chance in life owing to the depression. Some of them are slowly getting into positions, but meanwhile others who are younger, and therefore have an advantage, have come on the scene." What Education Lacks. Some revision of ideas on education was necessary, Professor Holmes remarked. The older type of education of ">0 years ago was in some ways sounder than that of to day. It gave the rising generation a broader background of knowledge, an acquaintance with history, philosophy and literature, which many now missed; it developed judgment and character where the present-day aim was largely to equip youth for a practical career in the shortest possible time.

"The broad, classical type of education which we have tried to popularise has not turned out the leaders we need," he continued. "The democratic nations are struggling in a confusion of ideas all over the world, and there are no clear paths except where a number of nations have resorted to force. It is a serious position and demands that more attention be given to the things which were •'•nee stressed." Rhodes Scholars' Difficulties. Difficulties experienced by Rhodes scholars and others who had returned to the I'nited States after stydving at the great English universities, and particularly at Oxford, were commented upon bv Professor Holmes.

"Our scholars have had a hard job finding a place for themselves," he said. "There is such a tremendous contrast between the old classic atmosphere of Oxford and that of America where the meditative, scholarly and philosophical in life has not always been valued as highly as in the older countries. The Rhodes scholars, like others, have had to apply what they have learned to the practical business of life, and some of them have met with a good deal of hardship." Importance of Leadership. He thought the results of the system established by Cecil Rhodes had not been up to the expectations of the founder, and that in 35 years large numbers of Rhodes scholars had not developed the qualities of leadership which were so essential if they were to play an important part in promoting the progress of democracy, but in time these qualities might be revealed. Notwithstanding this, however, he considered that the system was an admirable one.

Professor Holmes said that in some respects the Rhodes scholarships had some of the advantages of the interchange of scholars between the universities of America. Britain and FranCe, which was undoubtedly a valuable educational movement. Not only the colleges, but also a number of the leading secondary schools were now sending selected scholars overeas to broaden their experience and education.