"THE NEW WORLD”

Evening Star, Issue 21723, 18 May 1934, Page 11

"THE NEW WORLD”

WAR AND STRIFE IN THE FUTURE WHAT IS TO BE TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOLS ? In a comprehensive review of New Zealand’s primary schools' system, presented by Mr David Forsyth in his presidential address at the Otago Educational Institute last evening, reference was made to various phases of education in the “ new world,” and ho particularly stressed the necessity for discussing the .question of war and strife in the future, if the “ new world ” was to be born in the new schools. “We hear so much to-day of the work of the League of Nations. Only the future can value that work,” said Mr Forsyth. “In the midst of disarmament -conferences, peace discussions, and the struggles of the League to maintain peace arises the unpalatable but evident fact that another race for armament is starting. Another warcloud looms on the horizon, no bigger than a man’s hand, yet sufficient to show that world peace, permanent and lasting, is not yet secure. War is hell —pure. unadulterated hell—without one redeeming feature save the courage and self-sacrifice of those who heroically give their lives in the cause of the nation’s life.

“ How can we hope to prevent the recurrence of this periodic hell-on-earth? If it can be prevented, there seems to be only one way-through the child—through education. Education seems to hold the only hope of making war impossible. A raising of the standard of idealism ; a raising of tho character of the races; a development of a fuller trust in our fellow men ; a development for a broad spirit of internationalism ; a development of a ‘ peace ’ ideal; a spreading and a deepening of the faith and belief in God, and the doctrine of Christ on earth, ■ fo love your neighbour as yourself ’— all this must he accomplished if war is to cease. The school and the church, working hand-in-hand, must nlay an •.".or more important part. The war of to-morrow would he unbelievable, unimaginable in its deadlincss, in its ■cope, in its fatality. If the present •ivihsatiou is to survive, war must eea«e. If it is to cease, if wo are to have a better world, then education has to play a much greater part than even at present. The complete ideal may never be attained, but the attempt -mist be made.

“ The world to-day,” he said. “ is ■oroly in need of a spirit of international good-fellowship and brotherhood Jiat will rise above the potty jealou^ : e a "f national selfishness and greed. Nations must he led to temper power with humility, and justice with mercy. Kducatiou must develop along the linos which will tend to bring closer to realisation that ideal. The individual must be given, in the school ot to-morrow, an education which will prepare him for a- full and complete life: within him must be implanted and developed the ideal of an international brotherhood of man.

Till the war drums throb no longer. and the battle flags were finder! In the Parliament of man; the federation of the world.”