MODERN EDUCATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 134, 8 May 1945, Page 3

MODERN EDUCATION

PART IN YOUTH TRAINING. The contention that the older forms of education trained a person and save him a knowledge of the common ideals of life, gave him a goal to work for, or a vision, whereas the modern forms did not, was advanced by Rev. H. W. Monaghan, vicar of All Saints’ Church, when addressing the Palmerston North Pot ary Club, yesterday. His subject was “Education in a Wor'kl Adrift”. He claimed that it was only by altering the present education system that good citizens, who would live up to che ideals for which the war had been fought, could be made, and only by that means could we get away from civil strife and wars.

Mr ■ Monaghan said that when the Y.M.C.A. was formed it was thought that youth problems would be settled, but they had not. The Churches had done much, for the Poy Scouts and Girl Guides, but because of outside interference some Churches had broken away from these organisations and were now devoting much time to the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades. These Churcht's could not be blamed for adopting this attitude. To accomplish something in post-war youth work a scheme had been advanced whereby each young girl and boy would be forced to register; this he did not favour, as it was too much like German methods. The Churches were prepared to bring their systems for training of youth up to the standards required by the Government for the Boys’ and Gilds’ Brigades. “The real problem of our youth lies in education,” continued Mr Monaghan, who said that the, Germans realised the advantage of youth movements —the minds of the children had been perverted to the Nazi ways,of thinking. Russia had also trained her youth, but along different lines. The youth of the latter country bad done much in her war effort. “Wo must train either for good or tor evil. Education is meant to lit a person to take his or her place in the world. It is agreed that modern education, as well as the old form, produced great men, but the old system gave the pupils some thoughts of lile to-take away. “Russia and Germany put a goal in front of the youth of .their countries. Then wlmt goal arc we to put before the youth of the Democracies in the post-war worldi" 'Joe speaker contended that education snouid be free from politics although saperv.scd hv the State. If all the Ciiurelies would settle their differences and stand together as one body he thought something could iie done to improve the youth of the post-war period.