LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2689, 8 February 1916, Page 9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS. Sir,—ln your Friday's issue appeared two lettera dealing ivitli university education. These letters' deal with some important, points, especially the one from Professor Brown. As one interested in the education of our youth, Ihave followed with deep interest, sir, your reports of the recent discussions of the University Senate. "Wo all recognise that what the Senate does in shaping the course of studies of university students will determine t-o a great degree the character of the education given in the various kinds of secondary schools, high schools, district high schools, and private secondary schools, and these schools will, in turn, influence the character of the teaching given in tlie primary schools. The proceedings of the Senate, therefore, _ will affect, not simply the comparatively small number of university students, but will affect the whole course of education from ono end of the Dominion to tho other. Many of us who desire that education should be given in accordance with the needs of these modern times, were glad to see that the Senate had affirmed the principle that Latin was no longer to be compulsory. At first sight, too, we were glad to see that they declared that a science should be necessary for the degree of B.A. Here Professor Brown shows that such a regulation would seriously affect the exempted student. In the good time that is coming we may lie able to do without the exempted student, but I think most of our- educational authorities are agreed that that time has not come yet. Such a regulation would bear hardly on country teachers, but it is not the hardship to the individual teachers to which we object so much as to the hindrance to real education, the forcing such men to take up the study of both purs and applied mathematics, if they have no taste for them. For this would be the effect, as Professor Brown points out, on exempted students, that is, those students living outside the four centres, or who are engaged in earning a livelihood. The great need for these modern times is science, and especially a knowledge of scientific method on the part of our teachers. We all recognise that we should encourage settlors to | go out into the back-blocks, and the Government acts rightly in establishing schools in remote districts, when there are, perhaps, only twenty or thirty children, or even fewer; to attend them. And while at present we cannot expect to have the teachers of such small schools trained in science, it is certainly to ba desired that at least one teacher in each school in our small towns and large vil'ages should have a knowledge of scientific method. It is practically required of teachers having charge of'district high schools that they should hold university degrees, and on this account many energetic and aspiring teachers study to fit themselves for such degrees. If, then, our University authorities decide to make tho knowledge of a science a requisite for a degree, it is to he hoped they will go on to devise some means of enabling the exempt student to obtain a training in science. A regulation of the University prevents the examination of exompt students in such subjects as chemistry, electricity, and biology, a regulation to some, extent necessary, as no real knowledge of such subjects can be obtained from books and lecture .notes alone.

At the same time, in view of tlie_ importance to the education of tlie rising generation that teachers should be encouraged to study science, it appears to me in the highest degree desirable T that the University authorities should J formulate 6ome scheme to take science s to tlioses, who cannot undertake the t ■regular course.—l am,-etc., 1 CHAS. J. COOKE. e Kelburn, February 5, 1916. a : : c WHY PICNICS? i E 'Sir, —A correspondent objects to pic- 'J nics, and I would uphold 'his objection t if he includes the dosing of the picture t shows, theatres, hotels, _ a'mt race- 1 courses. But why start with' picnics, « where every penny of cost is put into j circulation and not locked up for iilti- - matp distribution in dividends?' With i most of the annual' picnics now being held., a day's outing is given to fathers r and mothers and the children who are - doing their share in giving their loved ones to fight for lis. Not many who J should have enlisted will show up at the J picnics for very shame. No doubt wo • go in for too much pleasure, but an an- . nual picnic held by those who are keeping our industries on the move should . not be cut out before those other plea- - sures (?) I have mentioned.—l am, etc., . BRITON. WHY DO NATIONS FALL? . i . Sir,—There are, doubtless, many in the Dominion who believe, with Admiral Beatty, that until the Empire is stirred out of her stupor of self-satisfaction and complacency and a religious revival occurs, just so long will the war continue, and that when Bhe looks to tho future with prayer on her lips, we can begin to count the days towards the end. The Bishop of Wellington; Dr. Sprott, has pointed out that the most generally accepted, theory of tho fall of nations ifi ■ that they fall as the just jud'gment of a living God on national sin, olid, in consequence, that a nation is master of its own fate and holds its destiny in its own hands. Tho Bishop has also stated that it seems to be God's rule that, while He vouchsafes a direct answer to the requost of an individual when the matter of the prayer concerns only an individual, where the matter of prayer concerns great masses of men and whole nations, God only moves when approached in all earnestness and unity of purpose by a great army .of devoted servants of His. _ _ • Feeling that the position of the It/in-, pire is one of the "utmost gravity, and that, if we are to come safely out of this, the greatest, crisis in her history, we must organise our spiritual forces, an endeavour is being made to band together Christian people of all churches throughout New Zealand to pray dain, first, that a wave of national repentance may sweep through the land; -and, second, that God will brine; us safely through our time of trial and testing. \\ representative committee has been formed to further this movement, which has the anproval, among others, of the Primate, Bishop Ncvill, Commissioner Hodder (Salvation Army), and Mr._ C. i Cathie (chairman of the Baptist Union). It would help considerably if all those who would undertake to pray daily for these objects would communicate with ■ Jlr. D. 0. M'Olny, 13 Gordon Place, Wellington, or the undersigned, for union is strength in spiritual warfare as well as in earthly. It is hoped that a week day at an early date may lie set apart by authority to.be observed by all religious bodies throughout the Dominion as a day of humiliation before Almighty God for national sin and of intercession For the Empire. Many believe, with Admiral neatly, that the sure road_ to vistorv lies through the way of national penitence. —I am, etc., ' H. HAROLD ROBJOHNS. 13 Patanaa Crescent, Wellington. A BADGE for returned soldiers. Sir,—l, on behalf of the returned soldiers who have done their duty and teen discharged from the Army, wish you to put this in your paper, as I think that all soldiers should have a lvidge. so that the public would know that th»v have done their best.' Ido not think it is very nice to be called a i

shirker; also, people say : "Why don t you put the uniform oil and go to the front?" which none of us who have done our duty for our King and country care to hear, as wo often do from the public and troops in camp. I think that the Government should give a badge to all returned soldiers who have done their duty, and also to the men "who cannot get the front for the cause of being medically unfit. I have been woundd three times, and I have done my best for my country, as I am crippled for life. lam a returned trooper who lias been called a shirker on more than one occasion now I have on got my uniform off. I have lost two brothers in this war—in France. —I am, q o etc., • Ar DISCHARGED SOLDIER, A 1: ■ Peatherston. . . P 1 ' 1 [The Government has decided to issut! badges as suggested by our correspond- Gr ent.J ' (f<