REAL EDUCATION.

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1919, Page 2

REAL EDUCATION.

A superficial and materialistic reading of life regards education as an arrangement by which one gains facility to achieve outer and monetary "success." A truer definition of education is that of character building. Messrs Carruth and Lupfon at the'Whangarei High School gathering, reported in this issue, struck this higher note, and it is a happy sign of the times when those who are responsible for the training of the rising generation see so clearly and speak so pointedly. Reference was made to the inclination towards extravagance in dress, and the spirit of undue emulation in matters of cuihing was deprecated. There can be no doubt that an enormous sum of money is needlessly spent in expensive clothing, and that an out-of-reach standard is often set by the richer young people, creating a considerable amount of heart-burn, jealousy, envy, and extravagance, the burden of which falls most heavily on the less fortunate. Mr Lupton and Mr Carruth wore not vocating slip-shod methods of attire, but were speaking against that inordinate expenditure in clothing which causes young people to loso their sense of perspective valuing outer appearance more highly than character. The high school chairman wisely remarked that it was thought no disgrace in the days of his boyhood to wear plain clothes. And it should be remembered that plainness is not synonymous with ugliness. The most beautiful things arc often those lacking in ornatoness. For a person comparatively rich to dress beyond the capacity of his friends, is both bad taste and bad morals. The very atmosphere of true inner culture (education) is to do nothing to offend the susceptibilities of others, and garish display and boastful talk are unknown. Fine houses were also referred to by the chairman, and a note of warning was sounded as to unrestrained ambition. We can be sure there was no desire on t<ie part of Mr Carruth or Mr Luptoa to lower ideala of refinement, but rather to introduce an clement of calmer judgment showing itself in a keener emphasis of the more vital aspects of life, represented by such words as humility, honor, refinement and service. .., No nation can live permanently that ignores such factors of life; and conversely, any people or person that highly esteems such realities must ultimately survive because they are in tune with correct conception. It is quite a common-place of the present attitudes and ideals for discontent to show itself in high endeavours, and rapidly expanding views of life; but it is a mistaking of tho shadow for the substance if the only objective is fine clothes and houses. In drawing the attention of the pupils of the High School to such essentials of true living, the principal and chairman have proved worthy of the high office of guardians of the young, and a moulder of the destinies of the future manhood and womanhood of New Zealand.