EDUCATION IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1681, 22 February 1913, Page 8

EDUCATION IN NEW SOUTH WALES.

ROBUST'ANI) INDEPENDENT THINKING. . Mr. I. Board, Director of Education in New South Wales, .delivered an' address in the School of Arts at Batluirst receutlv. The Mayor (Aid. Rigby) presided. Mr. Board jaid. that the State system of education lind two nims 0) lo , C iei VCl ?i ono of its citizens qualified to filing all the obligations of citizenship, and (2) to further the belief that it was in the interests of the Sate-that every individual in it shotfld be able to fulfil his duties, eithOT as a bread-winner or as tile He p of a bread-winner. What they'wished to stud out of their schools wero a . people with a capacity for robust and independent thinking that, would enable thenv to find a.rational, basis of all theories they adopted, and all tho creeds tliov espoused. Tnc Anglican Bishop of Bathuist (Dr. Long), in moving a vote of thanks to Mr. Board, said it was absurd to think that leadership was going to como to the world only from those, whoso parents happened to havo heavy pureas. Ills conviction was that leaders were goipa t» como from others, . The' State must educate. Education must be national in sense or other, Education was the by which Australia could hold her placo amongst tlio nations of the future Tho State schools would not, banish religion. Tho relationship of the Churcb to education had been cl anged, and the Church recognifcd this." At one time the Church was tho only teacher. Now she shared her duties, her responsihilities. licr privileges, very laißely with the State. Tliov believed the first great command was, "let there bo light," and if tho light came through the. State Education Department, then they welcomed it "A.i light comes in, concluded Dr. long, "so'shall-Rood'be done. Tluvofore, we cannot fear the lisht. We want light. W« want only the truth."