AN IDEAL OF EDUCATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 11577, 12 October 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

AN IDEAL OF EDUCATION.

Mr M. E. Sadler, of the Education Department, addressing a very large gathering in the Examination Schools, Oxford, on " Economics in Education," said commercial and'industrial prosperity were of great importance as furnishing some of the means to national greatness, and modern education must avoid " merchant-marring rocks," but in his judgment, to gain commercial and industrial supremacy at any price was not the fundamental aim of national policy. Neither was it the supreme aim of education to impart commercial aptitude and industrial skilL Let their schools be practical and serviceable for the actual needs of modern life, but they must at the same time be unswervingly loyal to spiritual aims and to a high ideal of character. This was the true road to national welfare, and it would prove far better in the long run' even to sacrifice temporary advantage than capitulate to materialism. Quick wittedness, adaptability to new circumstances, quickness to seize opportunities, and the power of independent thinking were all qualities which their schools should try to develop. But taken alone these might be merely hurtful, and would certainly be insufficient. Ear more essential was it that their schools should teach devotion to duty, faith in spiritual forces, compassion with suffering, unselfishness of aim, public spirit, respect for hard work, variety of intellectual and practical interest, and the power of entering with sympathy and good judgment into other people's point of view. The best schoolmaster and schoolmistress were nnrivalled in the world for their devotion to the pupils committed to their charge'. But they needed, in his opinion, to raise the average of intellectual efficiency throughout a great part of English education. The study and use of modern language must play a much greater part in our education. Too little was done for the teaching of the mother tongue. One of the greatest dangers to our education was cram. It would, in the speaker's judgment, be very profitable if the nation were to do far more than was done at present for the encouragement of the highest kinds of professional and technical training. The safety of our empire largely depended on our having great sailors and great schoolmasters. In time we should feel as much enthusiasm for our schools as for the Royal Navy. The highest work of both was while safeguarding the material well-being to secure intellectual and political freedom.