“A BAD MISFIT”

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 58, 1 December 1934, Page 15

“A BAD MISFIT”

Education and Modern Conditions

new ideals wanted In an address at -Sheffield recently Sir Michael Sadler, Master of University College, Oxford, remarked that “Oxford and Cambridge, which have done so much for the study of religion, the classics, and natural science, do not care a fig for the study of education.” He added that he would rather a son of his grew up to be like "Herbert Smith of Barnsley” (the Yorkshire miners’ leader) than by cramming get seven credits in the scboci certificate examination. Sir Michael spoke on a training for our changed English life, and said the educational systems of the world were cracking like the streets of Messina during the earthquake. In many countries the present educational system was a bad misfit. An over-supply of academic education bred student-agitators like mosquitoes. In England we had escaped the worst dangers for three reasons: — (1) Our educational administration, including management of our examinations; was, broadly speaking, stainlessly honest. (2) We encouraged games and athletics alongside of class work in schools.

(3) Our young people had not rushed to the universities in the vast numbers which in some countries had produced hordes of B.A.’s without a job. There was a touch of Communism about all public education, but Karl Marx did not explain—still less explain away—the Lord’s Prayer, St. Augustine, Abelard and Heloise, St. Francis of Assisi, Jean-Jacques Itousseau. or the pluck of the Klamboroug.'J lifeboat crew.

Apart from Jew-baiting and failure to understand the strength of religions convictions, Hitler was trying a very interesting experiment in national education. He was making it hard physically, as well as intellectually. He was giving a sense of social obligation. “We want both things in England, though not on Hitler’s lines,” said Sir Michael. “Sir Oswald Mosley is 37 years of age, Plato was not much older when he wrote ‘The Republic.’ A later work of Plato, ‘The Laws,’ is likely to be much more heard of in the future than in the past. Its educational programme is much more exciting than Sir Oswald Mosley’s.” What was needed was a way of integrating scientifically, artistically and spiritually the training of the body to grace, health and self-control, with the training of the mind to precision, courage and honesty. “We shall have to find some better way of selecting our elite than competitive examinations,” said Sir Michael. “Examinations are like massage—tonic and stimulating, but not a substitute for outdoor exercise.”