EDUCATION FIRST.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 301, 19 December 1931, Page 9

EDUCATION FIRST.

Appeal Made by Headmaster of College. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 19. “ I want parents and friends of the college in this time of difficulty to be sternly insistent on and loyal to the full balance of the education ideal for which the college stands. Let no one make the education of his son the first economy. If the standards of motorcars, social entertainment or personal pleasure have to be curtailed, do not allow your sons to lose their great chance of getting a right solid start in life.”

These remarks were made by the Rev H. K. Archdall, head master of King’s College, in the course of his report at the annual presentation of prizes. In expressing satisfaction that the popularity of accrediting as a substitute for public examinations was now definitely on the down grade, the head master said: “I cannot but be saddened at the tendency in New Zealand to rush off to some crankish notion or nostrum as the one thing necessary, the only principle being that we ought to try anything once. There are a good many people who have to eat their words on this matter of acrediting, and it is a little comic to observe that two University professors had to go to England before they reported against the proposal of accrediting for matriculation.

“ We do not belittle learning, or sneer at intellect,” added the head master.

“ but knowledge to be followed must be the sort that makes men wise and not merely clever. We link the playing field with character and not morals with physique, but we do not propose