OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13892, 18 October 1918, Page 6

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM.

ITO the Editor.) Sir,—l am very glad to have Mrs Wilson's criticism of my early articles on this subject. My chief difficulty in answe/ing her is to find the definite point of divergence in our views The fact is that I do not discover in what Mrs Wilson says much that is inconsistent with my own views. It is obvious that, if development of character and reasoning power is the objective, the "transcendental" way is the practical way; In it it is not less true that if carrying power is to lx> the standard of value (except on a very short view, the practical way is the same. I quoted Mr Hitchen, one of our captains of industry, in support. Not only have character and trust, worthiness—the moral side—a commercial value, but the power of dealing with facts is more important than facts. Further to learn how to deal with facts doeg not ask less of a child in regard to actual knowledge of facts. It really means one more fact—the fact of perspective—which is the most iinpotart of all. I frankly admit that I have not laid stress upon what is called the practical side. Therein, I think, lies the value of the criticism. In the first place it involved details which were foreign to any man's purpose; and, in the second place I thought no one was in danger of forgetting them. On the other hand we are in danger, continual danger, of forgetting that the life is more than meat, and the body more than raiment. The enemies of our State schools, moreover,. however unjust in their statements and opinions, arc not wrong in the best they seem to apply—the best of character. May I point out, in addition, that the very '"practical" German, who does his "drafting" of children at a very early age, has landed his country on the brink of destruction. For this there is one reason, and one reason alone, the perversion of the moral attitude of the schools. I cannot agree with the historical cogcncv of the reference to the French Revolution, and the constitution of the United States. Surely the verdict of history is a triumphant vindication of those ideas from which the French Revolution sprang. Mrs Wilson's closing remarks, her doctrine of battle nnd strife do not really affect our discussion, for. however we look at it_. jve both wish, by education, to get the combatants for the fray. I darkly susnoct. however, that our views of the battle are different. I would exhaust the barbaric instincts under the restraints of mimic warfare, and in mental and moral conflicts, which do not demand the blood of a victim. This is an interesting subject, for efficiency does not seem to increase greatly without conflict. T do not think Mrs Wilson would accept victory if it could be shown that netgain was another's absolute, irremediable loss.—l am, etc., F. A. de la MARE.