LARRIKINISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10419, 23 July 1895, Page 4

LARRIKINISM.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib,—l bave devoted much thought for many years to the question : ".What is the beat method of dealing with the larrikin?" and so far tee but one satisfactory solution of the problem—viz., continued compulsory education It seems to me, Sir, that the chief cause of that mischievous idleness which we have come to de«igData as " larrikinism " is the emptymmdednesa of those whom our system of primary education turns loose just at the period o f life when the young need most a guiding hand, of iron strength and feather lightness, together, with full occupation for both bodily aud meutil energies. Do not misunderstand me so far as to suppose that I am. blaming, our system cf primary educ*hon, whica,.on the contrary, I think compares most favourably with the....system? of other nations; and indeed well, merits, the encomiums pronounced upon it incur new bishop's recent socw-pohhcal sermon. The priraavy system as a feeder of a higher is an excellent thicg.; but surely not the most enthusiastic of-it* architects would say that it was ia itself Hufficient to develop boys and .girls.'.into fii citizens of our progressive ; State. The history of our Jocal , Technical Classes, the favour with _ which the night coAtinuation school ,aea has been everywhere received help to. convince ma that I aca on the right track m pvo&onndiog a higher .ceasure of education as the one egftctual method of killing out this undesirable product of the time. But b.;.ys and^girlfi who will of choice attend such big&er «cnools are not the material from which the lamkin evolves ; it is the boys and girls who win not go to them, who thank their stars when Ihey have'passed, the Sixth, and can cat books, and slates, and class restraints for what, poor souls, they look upon as. ftesdom-it ia taese that, we have to deal with, and for these compulsion only will avail. Nobody ever, Sir, quarrels with the doctrine t&at tha State's education of her citizwis is but tfce merest act of self-defence. The points on whica men are divided are • How far does selfdefence oblige the State to educate ?' How far beyond that does a higher wisdom urge her to go? For my part I am of opinion that the measure of education which a.k first seems necessary in mere setf-defencs will become greater and greater as a higher wisdom widens the meaning of that term. That setf-defence which once was thought achieved if every citizen could, read oud write and "figure," grows by degrees slowly and sorely to embrace whatever may enable one nation to stand abreast of the world's foremost nations, aud that is something more than "the three R's." The debate last session on the education vote showed dearly that we hsve at present in the House of Representatives a number of men who fully understand the need for higher education—men heartily in sympathy with Sir Robert Stout's ideal of frea education up to the university itself. Even this session we are promised that something will bs done to bring our High Schools into closer relation with the people—a very necessary step. BaD, Sir, however this m&y be accomplished by extending tha scholarship system, abolishing fees, and what not, i£ it ba not compulsory, the higher education will very largely go a-begging. Siy letter grows too losg of I should at this point introduce the matter of child lab.-ur, which bears most pertinently on the question of compulsory higher education and in which the experience cf the United States ofiers an object lesson of no little value. Enough, however, has, I trust, been said to opeu a new phase of the discussion.—l am, &c, July 20. Fencer. p g x have not touched on physical training, merely because I take for granted that a rational system of education will not fail to give the body its due chare of attention.—p.