EDUCATION. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13180, 13 January 1905, Page 6

EDUCATION. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —Tho distinguished -artist Mr GWrg*' Frederio Watts, whoso death occurred last yew, s a the subject of an iiitorestingi notice in a'recent numbor of tho Monthly' Review.' His opinions on education are, I think, worthy of a wider publicity hero than they are likely to in tho pages of this magazine. I willTisk you, therefore, to print them. In so far as tlio aim of the Bible-m-Schools, party is to promote tho' attainment of Mr "Watts's ideals' that/party (should command the support of tho majority of tho electors whioh. thoy already claim to possess. Subjoined is tho passage—in. tho words of tiro lad} 1 ; biographer of the famous •painter:— . " Education was ono of the subjects which in'tonastcd him profoundly during tlicsQ last years. He was diesatis6ed' with the present system, and had plenty of theories of his own on tho problem. Instead of cramming ohildren with facts, ho maintained that we ought to givo them high-ideals of life, and muko them realise their responsibility to others. Above all, ho was strongly of opinion that oducaiion should bo distinctly religions in character. Tho young should lie. 'taught to remember. that they are children of-6110 Father, and. to look on> all mankind "as brothers and sisters, to whom they owe a distinct duty. . 'I - want to teach people how ,to live,' lie sometimes slid, 'how to make use of all their powers to work and hope ami .enjoy life, not ,to bo mere slaves and drudges, but to caro for' something higher than money-making and selfish pleasures. 1 ' It was this interest in tlto youth of England which made him. givo tho cartoon of his Sir Galahad to Dion College, where it hangs on the chapel walls, to remind Eton boys of the painter whose wliolo life was ono long endeavour to fulfil tho words of his chosen motto, 'Tho utmost for the highest.' t am, etc., A Memm® ok a School-Committee. Dunedin, January 12.