VIRTUE—ITS OWN REWARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 21, 25 January 1936, Page 8

VIRTUE—ITS OWN REWARD

When a parent wrote to the Education Board to inquire if a medal were awarded for long and unbroken school attendance, a member of the board is reported to have roundly condemned the encouragement of "puerile and petty pot-hunt-ing" in children, while another member remarked: "Everybody looks for a reward in these days for doing their duty." The condemnation seems a little too strong. If the original meaning of "pot-hunting" (hunting or fishing for profit) be taken, the term is inapplicable to the performance of a child who attended school'for seven years without a break. Even if this were "pot-hunt-ing" it could not be carried far on the same lines, since no child could complete a second seven-year term even to qualify for a medal with a bar. As to the expectation of reward for doing a duty—admittedly this is widespread and there may be arguments for discouraging it in children; but if children could be heard they might suggest adults should also try the effect of a good example. Then where would we be? We might agree to forgo medals (which' are often lost, anyway) but what of other ravards for doing a duty? Some men aspire to honours, some desire power, and "salutations in the market-place." Others follow the advice of Omar Khayyam: Ah, take the Cash in hand and waive the Eest. Certainly the children should be taught that virtue is its own reward, but until all their mentors have learnt the lesson too they cannot be blamed if they hope for something tangible on account.