TRUE EDUCATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9956, 27 April 1918, Page 4

TRUE EDUCATION

(To liio Editor “N.Z. Times.”) ,Sir,—The word education means drawing out—uu> drawing out from tile child tlio faculties and abilities which tie concealed within him. in our day that meaning seems to have been entirely forgotten; the modem education seeks not Uj draw out but to pour in—to loud tlio mind of tlio unfortunate child with a .muss of facts of no use to him whatever in after life. The child is not tno body but the soul, a veritable fragment of iho 'Divine, and tho duty of the parent and teacher is to help _ that Intent divinity to unfold. Education is given not only at school but in the home, not only by the pedagogue, but by the parent; not only by precept out by example, it is achieved by what is taught the child, and by our attitude towards him; and most of tho mistakes are made because that attitude is fundamentally wrong—because wo think of ourselves instead of him. , Tho organisation of a child is one ot tho most marvellously delicate things in nature, and a moments thoughtlessness, a touch of acerbity, may create a breach in confidential relations that will lake years to heal. Harshness of any sort towards a child is a crime. To indict bodily or menial suhering on a ehilil is the act of a devil, not of a man, and tho fact that tho inlUctor pretends to tiiink that his cruelty will cum some fault in the child in no way palliates its wickedness. If he knew anything of the real facts of life ho would be aware that the effect of his brutality is in every case far worse than that of the fault which ha affects to imagine he is trying to correct. . What is needed is gentle, but vigilant, protection on the •j-c side, utter trustfulness on the other, and tho greatest affection on both. Our iir.st duty to tlio children is to keep (hem healthy and nappy. Without health and happiness no true progress is possible, and to secure their happiness should present no difficulties ins proper condition of love and confidence have been established, for children arc naturally happy when they are kindly created, ■ and it is easy to loam to follow and understand their varying moods. It is essential that, though the moods of the child may vary, those of rho parents or teachers should not; for a child is quick to notice and resent an injustice, and if he finds himself chid■cu at one time for an action which on ..aether occasion is only laughed at the foundations of his universe are unsettled.

The mind of a child may be likened to a-mirror, it reflects quickly and faithr'ltl'.y the thoughts and feelings of those around it- Depression and anger are ■infections, and -we have no right to pass on mental and physical diseases. So -Sensitive are children to outer influences 'that we should ho on our guard never to permit in ourselves any thought or feeling which wo do not wish to see in them, for it i 3 exceedingly likely to be reproduced in them. Never be petulant with. « child, even when his humour is boisterous, always try to meet his change ::l'.; moods with full and kindly com-;--vhi?nsion, love is a wonderful quickener '.:■;" the intuition. To express tErough 'his youthful body :':o soul within wo prepare- him by pre-:cr-t (but sparingly), and bv a certain .v.;iount of direct instruction; but, most

.'i all by example. Our first caro is to ;;void putting- hindrances in his way of -.:•_>velopincnt- by any stupidities of our own, our second is to promote that decelopment and offer opportunities for it by every means -within our r>ower. The si-eat kevnote of our. attitude, the beginning, "the middle and tho end of it is lovo. ~ Our universities prescribe a certain curriculum, founded upon the theories oi centuries ago, belonging to a. period jsjiea there were few books in the worid, arid 'everything 'had to bo memorised. It may be that there will come a time, in the future, when we shall be more practical—when wo ishaU ddncjte less time to book-learning, and more, to developing our boys and girls into usetul citizens and capital subjects of our king, His Majesty King George. The Boy Scout movement is tending in the right direction-making our toys handv, ooni-r-etent, and self-dependent. From that ready lielpfulness many other "ood qualities will come; a boy .-who as instantly watering for opportunities to Ik, useful will be honest, true unselfish and kindhearted to man and beast; one vho is thoroughly capable will also be manly, courageous and courteous—l am, ctc -> M.C.P.