THE DISADVANTAGES OF EDUCATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 113, 11 May 1909, Page 2

THE DISADVANTAGES OF EDUCATION.

Recently before the Manchester Principal Teachers' Association, Judge Parry read a paper firom .which we take the following highly original and striking opinions:— Foa- my part, I have never made any secret of the fact that from my earliest days I disliked.education, mid had a natural and, I hope, not ■'unhealthy distrust oi: schoolmasters. Personally, I have always regarded it as a matter of congratulation' that I escaped, from school at a comparatively early age. My view of the ideal system of education is much the same as Mr Weller Senior's. You will remember that he said to Mr Pickwick about lids son Sam:, "I took a. great deal of pains with his eddieation, sir! I let him run in the streets when he was very young, and shift for hisself. It's the only way to make a boy sharp, sir." The bad boy who gets into trouble, and has the good fortune to be put in ■a reformatory, and there leainns a tirade, has a much better_ chance of a useful and pleasurable life than the good boy who gains a County Council prize in geography. Teachers should never be chosen for aaiy academic degree they possess, for every day it becomes moire certain that the aiian v/iho obtains uiese degrees is the man who has deliberately failed to make himself a master of aaiy one subject.

It is no use teaching young people any subject unless you see that in after-life they are to have opportunities of using their attainmeints foa* the benefit of the State.

And I want to see a race of schoolmasters not only better paid—but worth more.

Education committees should choose a good man or woman, to be head of a school, and tlietf. leave him or' her alone. The inspectors should be pensioned— and turned oS on the golflinks.