MODERN OBSESSION OF SELF EXPRESSION

Chronicle (Levin), 16 December 1946, Page 3

MODERN OBSESSION OF SELF EXPRESSION

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HEADMASTER'S STRONGr PROTEST.

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| WELLINGTON, JJec. 13. A strong proltsst agsiinst the tendoncy to relax diseiplinu in sehools vvus made by the lieadinaster of Weliesley j College, Day's Bay ( M r W. II. Steveiia ) ' at the prize-giving cerenionv vesterdav. j "1 was reading the other day, " he'1 said, ''of a certaiu Mr .fohn. AitkenI liead ('.Johii' to his pnpils), who is 1 workiug ofi the theory that wlien pnpils I realise that there is 110 punishment for j being bad, tliey cease to enjoy straying from 'the straight aiul narrow patli of jvirtue. ' Ho luis founded a schonl wliere pupils may smoke, swear, and at- ! tend classes when tliey like — and whore : washing (and I presume teeth-cleaiiing) 1 is optional. iiis idea is: 'teaching freedom and tho ari of living. ' Tiro report says that lie linds tiiat only new pupiis smoke, swear, and stav away i'roni lessons. "Apparenlly Mr. Aifkenliead is oue ! of lliose people who are obsessed by the idea of 'self-e.xpressiou ' and who tliink that anything iit the way of rej pression is coulrary to the laws of N alure. Doublless lie sub.seribe,s to the idictnm of Lonl llenry Wollon in Osear iWilde's 'Picttire of Dorian Grey,' that 'the only way lo gel rid oi' ti lemptalion : is to vield to it.' Yele\eu Wilde realised (tliat tltis sort of coikIiicI must lead lo ! disaster. Mcn aml women eannof go ' about doing as lliey like ( indeed under ] our present bineaiicrat ic systein we j inusf all do jusf as our rulers tell us). ! It is only by exereising sel I' eont ro| (Imt I eiv ilisal ioa is possible. I can scc notli- ' ing but Irouble de\i-lopiug I'roiu Ihe i modern ideas of sell' exjircssioii and j freedom for chihlreii and repre.ssion and j reginienlat ion Foj- purents. "