Timely Topics

Northern Advocate, 26 February 1940, Page 4

Timely Topics

“The challenge to democratic civilisation implies a challenge to democratic education,” said Dr. George

EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRACY.

Pratt Insh, in the course of his presidential address

at •The annual general meeting of the Educational Institute of Scotland. “On the nature of the reply to the challenge to democratic education depends ultimately the survival of democratic civilisation. For let us be under no misapprehension, unless those who are in our schools today arc provided with the very best education possible, the critical, active intelligence of the individual citizen, the mental equipment which makes for success in the working of democratic institutions, cannot be looked for among those who will one day have to undertake the duties and the responsibilities of citizenship. Reform in education is the answer of our social and political faith. It is a stern ■assertion that we do not despair of | our great social and cultural heritage. Do wc realise that with any 'school subject—literature, say, or history —wc can only, in the time at our |disposal, and at the stage attained by [our pupils—skirt the frontiers of a [great province? Do we so manage \ our approach as to stir in the minds "of our pupils an eager desire to undertake independent exploration for themselves? Do we make any effort to equip them for such exploration? ”

A correspondent sent to "The Times” a letter which his daughter had recently received from a young

THE SPIRIT OF FINLAND.

friend of hers in Helsinki. It shows the indomitable

spirit of the Finnish nation. Following is a quotation front the letter: Helsinki, Doc. 17. I was very glad indeed to receive your letter. I have been often think ing of you, especially during the war. when I have seen many pictures of English women doing their duty. I was going to write you a Christmas letter, but then the war began (the same day when your letter was dated), The very first days of it fell upon us unexpectedly. And now—as [ think you will receive my Chrislmas greetings too late —I wish you a happy New Year. I am still working in our hospital and now during the war just at our First Relief Station. From the window I saw the Russian aeroplanes, which on December 1 bombarded our city and the poor people who sought shelter out of doors. Now we cannot see anything from our windows! God saved our house and so we could help the poor wounded men, women and children. (Other hospitals had to do it November 30.) Our physicians worked with them late into the night. Now our patients arc moved away and we who still remain here have to wait. Now better than ever wc must be prepared for life or death every day. I think you have heard how our boys arc fighting. And the whole people is standing behind them as one man. All the peoples of the world are living now a hard period. But after all it is great to live just now when-pur people is thoroughly unanimous. WL.. arc fighting for all that is right and sacred. Wc pray God to help us in our war against the numerous enemy and wc are sure that He will do it! Our Girl Guides arc helping in hosr pitals or working somewhere else. Many foreign ambulances are coming over here. So we sec that the sympathy of other peoples is not only in words but in action.