LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2136, 30 April 1914, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

PROFESSOR PtGKEN ANS MR, VON HA AST. Sir, —I. have followed wii.li much intfii'st and not a litilo simisenwnt the ton riutl and voluminous correspondences that, has h&yu a|>j!mring iir your paper recently between Mr. 11. $'. 'V o .n llaast and Professor J'i-cken, The isuio really hiiigos oniho relative value of tho two schools of 111ath01natic.il teaching, tji-o praclknl and the- philosophical, "aiid if no other cud is attained, a good purpose will l.if: accomplished if tli-i controversy serves to mvalion the people of this district to the fact that Urn teaching of mathematics lit the University should lie of jjreat value -hi Jilting nieii to occupy pasitioiis where a mathematical mind ami tramniE am essential. Xot thntutilitnrianism should bo unduly stressed in ■mi' University course to the exclusion or detriment of somvl theoretical groHiuhvorU,-or upbuikliug of mathematical ideas, or (levclo|Hi>Mit of tlmorv, but that ail teaching should be such as would'be capable of utilitarian applicaand should lie such as would bo capable of apjwaling with imdwstandJM" to tlw; average mintl of the pass starlenC .Now, sir. the point where Professor Pickcn fails, if I mat- b> allotrati to criticise one v/ho is ntiporior to Senate, CVnmdl and examiner alike, ami is soU> eiitrpiidied bt-.vond Mm range of oriti* nisßi, is that h» himself is such a brilliant mathematician and is so imbued with the enthusiasm for mathematical Kfeas ami the inwardness of the mathematical fundamentals, that lie cannot grasp dto attitude- Of mind of the average piss stiutent—a mind that is ah-aye seoliing something concrete to cling to in. its search for mathematical ii.gM— a rmml that clogs and becomes siirfeit. oil on being fe:l with notliini tent "inwardness and fuiidameirtiils/'lnd vrkkh is rc-dticmj te a state of coma by nn iV ternmiahh stiewssion of "tho apparent. ly-Pasy-madt-inoxplicablr-difiioult" type *f dissertation ; but which would .fcadily resnond to tbe mothqr] of ihc soeming-l.v-«ilHenlt-made-ridi(!ulousiJ--«asj,," and would liiossotr, and thrive'in an atmosphere of sme and practical raatbematteal teachinp.

Perhaps I iifli in an almost unique position in relation to this pba.sc of the matter, as I occupied the ttrmid position Oi Itoitic Professor I'icken's first lio-tieUrs student (omitted, by tins way, from the-' analysis submitted to us through columns a few days ago), ami ojjk'had the liriwfir, of Professor Pickcn's teach* ma; miring; t-he lest year of my course. N(W so thoroughly iniWet! was hi> frith enthusiasm for fundamental*, and tlw nosiro to develop all tho subjects along his own original lines that sll'text books tfiiii in use wore .Jiscardcd, o-i:d Aβ calculi and kindred subject tatight '%• the Professor's method aiid devehWd in his oiv.ii way. Unfortunately (?) for me lie could discover in me no enthusiasm icr tho general mathematical idea, such as \vnu!<J enable him to speak cntliusiKsticaliy about my mathematical capabilities." for I stuck to the test books and passed—the onlv other student in the class failed. . Ohviousk something was very wrong, and equally obviously it; was u-ot tlve teacher wlro was in fault, nencp a vigorous attack on t.ho external evamination was instituted, for neither the nor anvthinf ■clii? imist bo allowed to stand in the way flf Uie subject being developed in tbo-Professor's o«-'u .. method, and tho true .inwardness of/inat-hematins heme brought fo light. ' ' , ' . Mr. Von Haast wakes a point correctlv tvben he staffs that. Professor Pick-on hits been developing his'ideas dim'ng soi'io twenty years! assiduous training' and does isot re.iliso that, while ho is developing nmv ideas Wore tlio eyes of admiring students' along his original lino of research, the students, lacking th:,it training, ara bcoomih{j, keroßsiiig:lv fcofojisjpd as the suSn'eet Wnands and the development unfolds, waking tJip abstruse iu-oro nhsiruso and tiro metaphysical nioro metaphyseal. A stmlont who had been through <ra ordinary honours cowse would he ihk- to to hack and watch with approciati-fn tlia devp'opTOWit of Professor'PiekpH's own .particin lur lnethorl with its erderlv progression of metaphysical abstrafittoits. hut- tlv> ordißarr pass student is bow'ldered and dnacd I)y an ftpnareittly eitdl;>s-« *lwjnpr,-. stoil of what hn Jtful I W n i>oousfa>niod to TPSard as sinipte thenretienl pf"o.fs turned into nltoost jnox-)>lienb!p abstractions, with fe result flipt maijy ■o has given tit> or fa'lrri to (t«volop tho st.udy of n sub-Vt, wlv'ch wi-tvi otberw-isp have Iraon of inestimable vni'io to him.

_ TV irsnJt to which I itavo Wli hrosisWly <]riwu is tlwt Profp<w Fickoii's m?tliotl of piTscirtiiw mathematics is not,, suited to the nxsA mid fIV of pass submits, at ,-in.v r?ie> <n Xnr Zpalnml. _ Cnntw-prstps of tins sort, where a little bitterness has lippjj ' flisp'a*ptl l>;v lioi-.h sidc-S, nro not. I fliliiic, altecoiWr t:<i fra fnpoura,«tj, . Tlip i>fp<wt is, hawcrpv. tJ>rito wpleomp. if it. ltp)ns to aroitsn » )it,tl<? inta-cst in tlio toncliing of mathematics ami oimjlwis** tlie iipwJ for the of ttw siilijwt witli 3 yfsw to its svhscquent p,w] ultimato utility.—l aw, etc.. M. H. AM. Pabncfstoil North, April 24, IDI4. PBOFESSOR HUNTER'S RHETORIft At QUESTION'S. Sir,—Vcrhaps Prtifossor Hunter docs not intend to be taken seriously. Ho certainly, hovi-evef, makes a iUtfinito cliaret , this tinio, aticiising mo of JitDrarv distortion. In support, be <-x* piiiilrs that what 1 called bis "vaguelyworded charges" were merely- questions. That is, lit- is not a havtito ci'uss.-oxariiiniiig cotiiisd for tjto prosecution. tn.it an entirely impartial jnrym-an or Judge, seeking infornratioii! And I am suiliv ef conteinpt of Court in innmpiitig the Judge's impartiality. If evidence were' needed, which it is Met. to show that his qnostious were va«up!.y-worded charges, bo might, consult the letter of his owii supporter. Mr. Lcary, hacking up Professor Hnnter. refers to "Canon tiurtaiul's -gjjdorseiiiGHt of sectarianism in SwiUcrIsMid." But, a Defence Lpftguo eaimat be Riiilly of literary distortion!

It appears "that your eorresjiefldent's rlismclinstion is not- for the. controversy, but merely for the present conifow s.iii'ist. It must seem preferable to him to ayokl facing Ms iitcoflsistcncies, and to change- ground witlj eac-Ii successive Ifiici: We must- all feel syflipstiiy with this exjsoneiit of an autocratic Defmieo League in not being able to draw thft travelling secretary into a prolonged newspaper correspondence. But has lie not nssiuned au impoJrtanca for his party which is wnrrantoij feitliir liy its platform .nor its sixe? Yo\ir correspondent cmpfeatienJiy d«* olapfls (hat it is not. true tliat our <mtirvtlv "secular systsra" pefmits the first Irason aftor the srliool has assDinbl«l to. 1)<» givon to rclkiieiis instniclioM. What eoiisHtiitos tim assomWing of the school? The arrival of its wont; bers, surely. Aiwl if .Tohn Smith nwl Siijiie .Tanps ftrrivo at 9 a.m. ml \f<n> da.v. Tuesday, AVctlnefidaj , , nntJ Fi'itlAV. we niny bo certain their jnothors will Back tbfihi c>fF om 'Ihwrftdfty At, flic sahio time as usual. Tiws sMiiflalous lack of niorajitv of tlio Dniwdirt eommittees seems lo Ho iu the supposition tiiat limy have not solcauily rtf.olv«cl that the srfiw;.! day, despite, the preswwo nf Ihe selioo! members, is Dot hold to liav* 4 pnnimenced till 9.30. As practical Scotchmen, they )iro»al)ly have no time to wastfl in surf) firtilo pf^aiitry, Professor Hitnt«r ndmits that Iho ftrst- iDefciJcn Lcaßiw, with iltc sanw> ulijediv«, snnilnr name, and s.oniti of the officials of tiie DcfoiKw League, took its rise mhW <hfi aiisriices ff an ntiiiMßtic wopacandist. Mr. Joseph' M'CViw. Realisinit tin's, we flnn vahi(» iis Imp worth the IVfarc? I/oagnc's ri-ismttinnshtp of any religious haslrac(io'i : ,n sethK'ls trhatefer.

Professor Tltt>jt«r ileckret that T have sfisd Oiaf "ho one who ewnvit Bcceist the Christina 3n«!WSs shmtW i>B

"Slowed to teach in iJUs' people-'* ■schools." Will ho hi so good as to'say iflicii itnd where J. have made this state moot?

AftiT his petfect orgy of sietti-issufia, To\u coi'M'spondcnt directs ns "to tlw main and enjy confcctitioii." Tlitm si.l! his , rhetorical questions wc» mere l.'.vplay, lifter all. Ow literary iicpjoafc was irme)y giving, μ-lay ta : l)is muscles. it<.i now balances himself carefully on t«e "main and only- , wife. Here'it is, 't iio JJibfc League propose to givo .«ekftt* cd passages Irani "ilia Biblo to the eiriltlren—not tho Book. l'nor "main and only"! Will it stand li» mofclrt of a professor of logic? JCvidwitly Hot, for tmdcrlicath js> :i itiesi of subsidiary strands. Athe-isucfti teichers arc not, to bo afloscd to ftiriii tho eltaractcT of Christian children ill tlvwr tm-u way. I'lio chiM of Baptist, Frpsbytcriau, or Mcibotltst must i«v"Rs.l to a shuddering world tLat no is Baptist, Prcsbytenaii, or Methodist. A iniiKrtity of dissidents must suffer a fraction of their fractional quota of taxes to ho spent on teachers wlw ae-tn-allv racet tlio wisiios of a majority. And the voters are to be asked >.o dn"ifio on a svstem which onn-iouitl) (if tbam aro. kuaivft to antvrcH'-e. Tr.M to realise those cuniulativfe wrongs I 'Can wn wonder tiiat n Bisiiop-eleot of (hi. fntui'e Dtilvcrsity etaircti eivofild arise in armstelic «oal and smite usl-I am, etc., 0. TV. WILLIAJIS. THE REV. MR.' KEAY AND MUDOLBO STATIST!©S. Sir,—l suppose I niay without ofi>nco represnnt the Uev. Mr. K*a.y as one of the mv. Ckjiob (rarlautl's converts. It hns not lrithcTto been asual tor winis* ters of the Imlopondetit Church to advoiMitc the t«Acl»iig of n l ligion by tli« State, but the oM Lafin itpiio-risj-M, "Tempora nrtitantur nos et imttaii-i-ur ii-i iHie" Still holds Übo. If it js -the h-ilvc-tion or duty of the State to teach re> ligioHj 1 w-onder Iwv.- I.hc di.scstaUis.bment ef the Welsh Cbareh can be conitsended. Wo have ceme a long v-s.v from the days of the "Xowcmifafijiisls,'' 1 wlien tho "disside-nce of dissent" was applauded. Like njanv ffrccfit eoiiverts, the Ror. Jfj , . Keay (I a.ia afraid) has not.paid suffidciit a'ttentien to tj'ia facts and figures which. Ire attempts to manipulate. Let ma illustrate my statement -by reference to his -rflJnu-rks OJ) juvenile crime. So far as I f»ath«rcd from the report -of the CJricf -iustiofi's statowent, he tfas dcatmg with persons under 20 years of age convicted m courts. Ho *.ras not dealing with offences so-called in Children's Ceurts. 1 do not gather that the reverend gOMlie-i-naii conteststlie'Quof Justice's kgurc-s. These can all lie esen -in the volumes of statistics i)ufjli»hfi.d fey tiw Goverunienl Statistician, tot me reproduce tlwm — the nußJber of jjadividuals under 20 years of age convicted. Number Frejmrnon received put 10.000 oi Years. into prison population. 1887 SiO 3,69 1802 140 2.10 1897 120 1.73 1003 , IOJ> 1.37 1908 124 1.31 191)0 'JS 1.01 11)10 IQi) 1.01 1911 „ 85 0.83 l»d 139 IM I leara tiiat in 1913.tfe0 figures were* 1013 119 1.13, Do those figures, then, not dtow marked decrease in juvenile ;riws? The reverend gentleman says hi is."sorry thai Sir Iteocn SjtoiK liatl s-sid liivt-nilo criwo bad -dc-weasei fof it is not true." Hβ will, perlißps. be serry for sonicthiHg else —so try "that i;e ventwred to contradict tho-'Chief Justice tvitliont taking tho prco.wtioA or twnblo to slwdy the statistics.

Ho quotes wbrt ho calls "jtive-jiile offences.'' Yot;., sir, iro doubt open your cvt's very iS'Mefy when you ieam somctliing of what h« calls *'iuve ; uilo crime." Tho 'fact that a parent iieglpcts his -d-nU tlren, it appears, n clnssified as a "iuvouito criW! Hβ g«'cs figures trf . "juveniki oft'encos" in the four citiss. Lot us examine one list, |t«ur wportot, I tliii&, liiis. sonicwliat muddled lire fig' ■ m'esj In tte Children's Co-urt iai Aw'Kliuid (1910) there were 124 cases. There wore not J24 children charged. Soma were charged more than oiicp or tft-ke. !thcso were not thowi'om "distinct pw BGiis" clwifged. 01 the 124 eases, 6 were dismissed, 6 wore witbdr.Tiva., and 71 admonished and discharged, l<s xtm sent to indtfstriiil sclioals, ami wiiMJ wei'o ordered to come up for soilfence .when -eaUed on. There were oiily tWlve jwni-slied, and that by "whipping," so that the Met result Was—tea sent' to industrial schools and twelve whipped, ]3«t, what were tlvo offences ! di.ur»ed? No fewer than twelve >v<m'b I fer fskyh-ig criclcet in tjio streets—what uattglity ■•'crii.niimls," Mr. Editor 1 lilcvcn'were for throwmg stohM, one was a stmv«aw!i.v, ono for driving a cart MU'!!!l the cor«er of a stAct! Vitty- ' iivo were for theft, Vut of these only obven ivei-o pHiiishfitl. If we take tho .191-2 dm-rges, th«n ! were, the r«*. gcutlcman is represented i.-ae saying. 161 eases or charges.. His ficures are wrong. There Wore '205— 1.54 asaiits't inaliss and 21 agnin>st fonvales. Of tWw, three were for nlayiiiff" E-imes in the slrccts, ajid four'taiii for fcavittg iw mcftits af^wbsistenee. The "Jw-cmilo erijwnals" iinis-t, ! thcrrfore, have been the parents, not ; Ujo (-liilteiil Tho seritHfs .charges wore one i-iuiu'fecl for theft, wilt of : these 15 of those eonvieted were to come up for scmUmvco vlwr; talkd on.; : % wore adraenisliocl ami fHsehnreptl, 3 fitted, ti comniUlod t.s iiidnstrial tomes, ' iiiul 'I wet* dismissed. These "charges' are treated hy tho rev. jspntlonwm as if their w-ero "tlistiiict" juvcnilos "ennricfend" of the immto of tiffetrees sjweilii'tl. atui the *«sf> of it is (to tmrmv.his o«n classic- language) that it is -not trite. Further, c*n h> ftinnsh »«,t evidence that a sinfilo mw . of them vver passed tlartu.eii ii» standards of ft Stttto school? What; if any did so, was tlio nlimhw? Let me iilludo to tlw Wellin-csVon st<i» tisttos of WHO. Ift 1-910 26 were for haviiiß no ivicans of swjsistoiii'n. l p aiiey a tlersyinan BiKliJig it in til's Ivoart to classify them »s "juvoii--iln eriraiuals"! In 1012, llwt'e wore- (in Wrfliiigton) 36 charges ftf no nteans of 'sulisistwiec. II of liriiiE with df-mi.'k-iirds, -t of i.ro-t k>jng titidw 'proper teontrol. 3 f« sleeping in the nnn air, ] foe settnit; fire to f*rub, aiul 100 for thefts. Of those, cfeht Wrc sent to industrial schools, and "%'* yinjjped, and tlio othtifs «'cfo not pi;»is!i(?4. Tbo rov. gcfttjpnvafl rnfers lo Kew South Wales, avid apologises for its record in crime T>y (In% thnt Kw South Wnlosisat! a''■lflnßi)im;k.patcli nl convict history." I very ttitiftli dn(il;t if them is a single convict alirp of those that wort sent -out iUcrc. ftp-it iitunber was small <:«innii.W(l with ifto free eofonssts. ff horodil.v is. however, lo cNijiain ".hivemkj <ri-li'ne," mny T its-k. if tho iw. prr.|.nk-ma» has t inquired lioav fHßiiy Now 3?easajt<l "juvenilft crhn.innk,"' ,is Im» tails t'Ur:ni_, iiaflf « iepfr Mack. -pal-di of convict Jitstwy hchind them. I?<jw ftiti tli.c ivi*. Rf?n*K wan aceotmfc for the .rcmisriiaWy letter cTim-innl verorfl of Victoria,. tll.il had nn enusfly Wwk wif-h in ils Iw-,'tdl-y? New 'Sowth "svWh. ft« tenK, hk-cb ]«itcli," is tiio Ststi> wliosr esaWUlp we are in feflow l>y ooMVpeMino, State school twiclwrs to Jeacll the r?l?' ttion of tvho majority. It I I'lMsuivc! , , tie prappr fo.r otlvpr -nittjorFlics h <!il3io-r fjoinifi'ics io fen-ve tlieiv way— in iroknd. ikmiui Ca*hMk»an> wmM h\ latirfit in State Sf.hools. n.iul in Enshitd., t-ltoro sm-oH* cmiH lift no reasonable ohicetion id hisisling m tlio m«o. in nfl State schools, ;of of iDnpJnlu} wtwtiism. Sfiotmg that tlio "liiv-ijqrit.v , ' of KiiaJtsliiiioji Ah , Vrtoi) (vmicp-ivf all Uie jiU'ciiiious fiijlit of t.k/. N-anconferniist ")ws»ive resistors , ' it Hip rev. eMitlsmftn's viHvs aw t-orred-.? What si-rot).WWi .'tile Bnglis.h Noncou* tormists ii'MSt li«>!-"I ajtt. ote,.. \i.)ri.l m 1&14»