THEORY OF "OVERPRESSURE.”

Evening Star, Issue 12871, 21 July 1906, Page 6

THEORY OF "OVERPRESSURE.”

The following letter, which explains itself, has been received from the Chairman of the Heathcote Valley School Committee by Mr W. Pryor, secretary of the Dunedin and Suburban Schools’ Conference :

“On the lOlh nit. the editor of the * Press,’ Christchurch, commenting on Dr Tnxby King’s crusade, says : —‘ Our present system of education is wrong in two very important respects. In the first place it seems to treat the brain as the only portion of the human body which requires attention; and so far from regarding'the physical improvement of the race as something worth striving after, it actually presupposes a willingness to sacrifice the general health for the sake of developing certain features of mental equipment. In the second place, the real object of education, even from the mental side is apparently lost sight of.’ It is decidedly encouraging to n>te the prominent position Dunedin is taking in the endeavor to comp ;1 concentrated attention on the defects alluded to. “ f\ any are of the opinion that if the portf )lio for Education held a more promineit position, a still further practical aid yould be available for the improvement) of education. Seeing that the Mini try is shortly to be reconstructed, the present seems opportune time for suggestiig to Sir Joseph Ward (assuming than ho will deal with the matter) that, if education is to be ajloted among what has hitrerto been regarded minor education shall rank first. If the idea in any way commends itself, will yon kinply urge it in all available ways? Unfortunately, the North Canterbury School Conmittees’ Association is not likely to most till after the Ministry has been formed, In the meantime, the Heathcoto ■Villey. School Committee is communicating with their M.H.R., Mr Laurenson.”