EDUCATING THE MIND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17132, 7 September 1926, Page 2

EDUCATING THE MIND

BELIEVER IN CLASSICS NEW HEADMASTER FOR KING ’S COLLEGE ' Canon Archdall, the new headmaster for King’s College, Auckland, who has arrived from Australia, in the course of an interview regarding educational matters, expressed himself as a strong believer in the value of classics. “1. believe the finest implement for educating the mind,” he said, “is still the old classical training leading up to the truly- historical outlook ami scientific viewpoint. In these young countries like New Zealand and Australia the importance of history is enormous. The only way to go forward hopefully is to continually go hack to the lessons of the past. History can he made a great means of training for world citizenship, and no democracy can hope to survive if its citizens do not understand deeply the history' and the reason for the institutions such as the Chnrelt and the Slate, which have .actually moulded ihe past and are likely to mould the future when all of u< have passed away.”

The new “head” was an enthusiastic athlete at college, and lie holds strong views on the importance of the athletic side of school life. “I am very keen on the question of physical fitness,” ho said. “If a boy is physically fit, it helps him to have a healthy outlook on life. Physical culture is an excellent thing, and the gymnasium gives material for*an excellent basis m more than one branch of sport. You will see some men who are expert in one direction, but still physically much under the average. It is essential that a boy should be given a good all-round start. I am very keen on sport with and emphasis on the team spirit.”