EDUCATION OR COMMON SENSE

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 210, 1 June 1926, Page 8

EDUCATION OR COMMON SENSE

4 (To the Editor.) Sir—lt is with much interest I have read’our Prime Minister's remarks re education, also your leader of to-day, and many other letters quite recently. But to my mind one and all are more or less on the wrong track. Firs- and foremost we must realise that the boys and girls of to-day are going to be the men and women of to-morrow. And it entirely depends upon how much common sense is taught and drilled into the mass of children while attending tne State school, before reaching the age ot fifteen, what type of men and women they will make. I maintain that while education is most necessary and essential, common sense is a thousand times more necessary. Many, I am sure, will say: “Oh, but that must be taught at home." But, pray, Sir. when q great many parents have false and stupid ideas themselves, how on earth can these parents be expected to impart to their children what they themselves do not possess? And, if Dame Rumour ever tells the truth, then there is grave cause to think and wonder if all our teachers have had enough home common sense drilled into them to enable them to see life as one and all should see it. How many are there amongst us who fully realise the true value of civilisation ? Too many, by far, both rich and poor, are striving to do as little as they can, and at the same time get all they possibly can, never thinking, nor caring, nor realising, that money is a thing that no one can eat nor carry away with them, and we can only buy with it while others work and produce, 'leach all and sundry to strive for happiness, a.bout the only thing that money wont liuy, and show them that it is, and always will be, quite impossible, to run this earth without work. Work in moderation is one of the finest things on earth, and if we love our work and take an interest in all we do, time will never hang on our hands and no days will ever be too long. The man who does laborious work has many things to be thankful for. As a rule he enjoys good health, sleeps and eats well These are comforts often unknown to the brain worker. The curse of all curses that a nation. has to guard against is laziness; there is nothing to equal it. Let it be the motto of every teacher to show his pupi.s that to bo happy we must never even dream ol being idle. No, to be happy we must be up and doing, and if many of our rich would only put this into practice what a lesson and example would they set to the foolish and ignorant. It is honesty of purpose that is essential these times. Many times more common sense and much less so-styied education is what is wanted.. While capital holds the primary position to-day that state of affairs would soon cease to exist once our workers start to think, I’maintain if we wish to hold civilisation then we must educate the rising generation in practical common sense. . Teach the workers the stupidity of higher wages, strikes and “go-slow” policies. Show them'that by demanding higher wages thev are aiding and abetting capital, while more honest true co-operation and lower wages will enable them to live cheaper and lessen, the demand for capital and thereby injure the capitalist. Teach the rising generation that capital is as naught if they will only think, and alwavs teach them never to hit below the belt. Always teach them to be British. Now, Sir, thanking you for vour valuable space, and trusting that some abler pen than mine will get busv and give common-sense education a boost.—l am, etc., S. J. RYDER. OtakL 1