The Feilding Star. Published Daily. TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1893. Technical Education

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 21, 25 July 1893, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Published Daily. TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1893. Technical Education

Wk know that what we are now enunciating are views which, in this enlightened and alleged Liberal age, may be deemed Utopian, but, for all that, not so many years ago they were held to be based on sound common sense and reason. We may promise that we hold with the advocates of Bible reading — at home ; we approve of the good work bein* done by those who are temperate advocates of temperance, and we believe in the regeneration of the masses by the sup pression of larrikinism, but we have a greater faith in work. Now, among our alleged politician* wo very seldom find a desire to do anythiug for '• the people " unless such desire assumes the unpleasant form of what is known as " a fad." This little word has ruined many a good man who otherwise would, probably, have been a valuable member of society. We do not wish to be misunderstood. An enthusiast, like the late Sir William Fox, is not " a faddist," but that I cheerful imbecile who, for instance, I advocates a State Bank is certainly one, which, in his case, means close relationship to a fool. We would like to see, then, our '■ rulers and governors," the chosen of the people — who voted for them — advocate an alteration in our educational system, so as to make it compulsory for every child, male or female, to be taught a trade or handicraft. Never mind whether they were " born in the purple '* and clad in fine raiment week days and Sundays. Let there be no distinction— except the very necessary one of physical fitness. That is to say, a lad who promises to be a Hercules should not be taught to be a glass-eye maker, or a weakling to be a worker in iron. Our blue blooded friends need not be afraid that this would be degrading. Many of the noblest men in Europo are members of trade guilds, and can show their indentures as well as the humblest of their brethren. During the troubles in Europe in 1848-9, when princes and noblemen were toppled over and had to work for a living, they quietly took up their trades, and cheerfully accepted the new positions their unlucky fates had assigned them, thankful that the wisdom of their fathers had made them able to conquer fortune with the work of their own hands. In these colonies trade ie despised. By trade we mean the occupations of artisans or skilled laborers, the men who create. A young man with a trade is independent, lie can go to any country in the world and earn his living. For instance, a compositor can gird up his loins and, with his composing stick in his hand, like the patriarchs of old, who had their staffs, he can go to any point of the compass where there is dry land, and the English language is spoken, and find a livlihood. The same with blacksmiths, carpenters, painters, plumbers, masons, and all 1 other men who are handicraftsmen. But the poor clerks and scriveners who, by the selfish weakness and criminal folly of their parents, are sacrificed on the miserable altar of shoddy gentility. What can they do when by accident, their own fault, or the bankruptcy of their employers, they are thrown on their own resources ? The answer is only too well known already. It must bo understood that while we would have every youth taught a trade, we do not mean that the doors should be closed of the scientific and learned professions. On the contrary, we would make the trades but stepping stones to the higher grades of life in cases where a young man had the ambition to rise, also the capacity to fit himself for bettor things. The magnificent educational system of this colouy makes it possible for the sons of the poorest as well as of the richest to do this, and although a lad has learned to be a good carpenter or blacksmith, it is also quite possible for him to become a good lawyer or a good engineer. The brain power will force him upwards if he be but given a fair opportunity. In writing thus, it is with the hope that the parents of smart and healthy lacU will «.bata.lj from crowdiug them into offices, banks, the Civil Service, or other like employments whore they can learn nothing and gain less. We know that what we have written is not likely to meet favor with the average professional politician, but we do hope i that it may find an echo in the hearts of wise parents.