The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1883.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLI, Issue 6907, 12 July 1883, Page 2

The New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) THURSDAY, JULY 12, 1883.

There ought to he no two opinions as to this merits of Mr MAOAXDiitvv’s proposed educational reform. He is to rnovo in the House of Representatives that, “ fu the o])inion of this House, it is desirable that physical training should constitute an essential branch of education at the public schools throughout the colony ; and that it is the duty of the .government to see that a fair proportion of the vote for education shall be expended in that direction.” ft is the fashion for the majority of persons in this colony, most of whom have been themselves very indifferently educated, and who are themselves by no means shining examples of what even the little instruction they have received can do, to praise up to the skies the present system of State instruction as being something so near perfection that the dilferencu is not of much consequence. Yet it is quite possible to hold another view, and to believe that while our present State schools do their work on the whole fa rly well, they may be greatly improved. They instruct the youthful mind much, but educate, or draw forth the powers of tho mind, very little, and tho body not at all. Thu amount of abstract knowledge attempted to bo stnlfud into the poor little brains is something astonishing. It is a wonder that they are not affected like guns with double charges in the barrels and don’t burst. The children are generally treated in much the same way asyoung geese are in France —tied by the leg with a very short siring in front of a lire, and then crammed with'food until their livers are duly enlarged and made fit for Strasburg pies. Tho bird does not like the treatment and suffers, and its flesh is not as wholesome as before, but the result looked for is attained.

But iii young colonies like those of Australasia, where tho practical duties of life are predominant, strong arms and legs are of quite as much consequence as big, swollen beads. The whole man, and not a part only, needs to bo trained. It is all very well, perhaps, to leave a fow boys, abnormally sickly in body and crochety in mind, to tbo usual school routine, in preparation for the law or tho Church. But juvenile farmers, blacksmiths, stonemasons, carters, and even engineers and pressmen generally need all tho strength they ha ve. Hitherto their school life has bean a miserably poor preparation for their school career, and tho best of what they have learnt has been learnt out of school —in the fields, the playground, in boats, and on the cricket ground. It was lamented a little while ago by a London litterateur that the Australasians take so keen an interest as they do in outdoor physical exorcises, such as cricket, football, rowing, &c., and lamented that they wore gradually drifting into the habits of tho South Sea Islanders, and would soon become, like them. Why, it is that very peculiarity that has saved the race hero and in the Homo Country from degradation. Their school education has been defective and one-sided, but their occupations and tastes for out-door life have made them healthy animals, and when their brains needed to be sot to work, they could work fast because in a healthy condition.

Of course, we may bo told that English boys and girls tako naturally to these athletic physical exercises and need no teaching. Wo are not so sure of that in all cases. Some children have not naturally sufficient vitality to exert themselves much of their own accord, and need training. And there are some who would like to play more than they do, and stretch their limbs more, but have no time allowed them for it. It is especially for these that tho additions to our educational system which Mr Macandktsw proposes would bo valuable. For our own part, we would go much further than the member for Port Chalmers, and not merely train boys physically at school, but teach them trades or skilled occupations as well, so that they shall not be entire novices, when they first attempt to earn their living as young men. Many of them, who aro dead failures in tho monastic studies with which State schools are at present busied, would be smart artisans, carpenters, sailors, market gardeners, farmers, or stock-riders. And these are persons of the sort the colony wants. In the meantime, while in training at school, if not physically overtasked, they would enjoy their work far more than they usually do at present, and therefore be healthier in both mind and body than they are now. Goethe makes Gotz, of Berliohingen, say that “ joyousness is the mother of all virtues and he was probably right.