NATIONAL EDUCATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5168, 25 November 1884, Page 3

NATIONAL EDUCATION.

Whatever views may be held relative to the question of religious instruction in our i public schools, there is never any question jof the importance of a universal and j thorough grounding in secular subjects. ; The man who cannot read or write in , these days is out of the race of life, and j except in the case of extraordinary ! natural forces, will remain behind for the : whole of his natural life. This belief is 1 now so general that it need not further be , discussed ; our only duty now being to make the system of instruction as perfect as possible. It is in this regard that we join our voices with those who are asking for greater attention to the study of natural science, and we would especially refer to that much neglected science — physiology and anatomy — the construction of the human body. ( No education can be considered complete that does not provide for an intelligible conception of the position, structure, nzid functions of the great vital organs, the commoner disea^ts to which they are subject with the remedies, and a knowledge of the nutviiive qualities of different kinds of foods. Wt are aware that no complete know!.'c]-'.v of these things can be eouiuiUTiion'o'i in ■:*• short period of a school course, but it i.absurd to pivttW. that, whi'.st hoyn r-'.-.A girls can be turned out with a fair sm.i;: :• ing of languages and uiathein:'<k's, •:!:<.; cannot also be taught the funoti'-r.s ..f liver, stomach, heart, brain, &t\, together with the causes which produce and the symptoms which indicate derangement. How many a man, for instance, goes around in a state of settled melancholy, moping and growling, because he doesn't know that ho has a liver, and that by diet mid Hamburgh Tea, he may be restored to cheerfulness ? But ten times worse is the ! case of a man who tosses for years racked i with torture from sprained tissues, neuj ralgia, rheumatism, &c, when thousands t of testimonials from known persons are i forthcoming to show that his suffering may be permanently banished by the use of St Jacobs Oil.— [Advt.]