The Dominion TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1015. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE FUTURE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2608, 2 November 1915, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1015. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE FUTURE

Long before the war began critics of our education system pointed out that much more might and should be done' to foster and stimulate a keen and enthusiastic national spirit among the children attending our Slate school's. This aspect of education has not been .entirely overlooked, but it is quite certain that the inculcation of patriotism is not given the same prominence in our scheme of education as is allotted to it in the school courses of some other countries. The war is making us revise our ideas regarding nlany phases of our social and national life, and it has strongly emphasised this weakness in our method of education. The Hon. J. A. Hanan, Minister of' Education, states that the war has caused him to givo careful attention to the problem of increasing the usefulness of our schools fi'oiii the point of view of national efficiency. He might also consider the question of following the example of the .French authorities in the matter of providing a- regular supply of suitable war I'tc-raturo for the schools of this Dominion. In France small booklets dealing with various aspects of this great struggle for right and freedom are being distributed in large quantities. Thcv toll the story of the war in simple language. The children are told of the licroic deeds of the men who are so bravely fight-, ing for France. The .fighting is dcscribcd, and (lie children :>.ru on. ■Ablcd to. follow tic coursc of events

ill an intelligent manner. Thoy also learn, how other people besides soldiers can'help their country in its day of peril, and they are made to realise as vividly as possible what the conflict means to the nation as a whole, and to the individual men and women of whom the nation is composed. The purpose of these booklets is to impress upon the youthful mind the glory and greatness of France, and the ideas and ideals for which France stands. The .French Government recognises that the best way to make Frcnch children love France is by showing them that Franco ig worthy of their love. The war stories appeal to the imagination of the boys and girls with irrosistiblo power. The interest of the chil.lren is captured, and they carry the patriotic sentiment from the schools to the homes of the people. Tho booklets are read by the parents, who become infected with their children's fervour. The French Government has now given instructions that Nurse Cavell's heroism and barbarous execution shall be explained to the children in all the elementary schools of Franco. This brave woman's tragic story affords a practical example of .what love of country means, and it oannot fail to leave an indeliblo impression on the juvenile mind. Suoh incidents make the boys and girls of to-day, who will be the citizens of to-mor-l'ow, feel that' it is in a very real sense "befitting. to die for ' one's country," and that these words of the Latin poet are something more than a mere -flight of poetic fancy. Both in France and Germany "war lessons" form an important part of the school course. Are we in New Zealand making the most of the present unique-opportunity of teaching patriotism We understand that something is being done in most of our schools to give the children an idea of the great happenings which are being recorded in the daily papers; but there is need for a much more thorough and systematic effort to make the best educational use of the splendid achievements of the soldiers now fighting for. us in Flanders and Gallipoli! It is well to tell our children of the glorious deeds of their ancestors in the -brave days of old." Such deeds remind them of the dutv of living up to the groat traditions of their race. But it should also be , impressed upon them that the days of heroism are not gone; that British soldiers are still ready to risk their lives for their country and their comrades; and that the British Empire of the twentieth century needs deserves, and demands the same high spirit of service and self-sacri-fice from its oitizens as was shown by the gallant men who fought and defeated the Spanish Armada in the days of Elizabeth. The war booklets for French children ought to set our educational authorities to work.