A SOBER JUDGMENT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 139, 10 December 1930, Page 10

A SOBER JUDGMENT

Many Wellington people will remember Mr. James Bee, principal of Scots College, whose remarks were reported in a cable message from Sydney yesterday. They will know him as an able educationist, a keen observer of affairs, and one not given to expressing opinions without full consideration. Especially will they remember him as a man not inclined to trespass on political ground. When, therefore, he goes beyond the bounds he has set himself it must be because he deems it his duty to call attention to some glaring fault. His sober judgment must command attention. "Schoolmasters (he states) have lamentably failed in their efforts to train children passing through their hands . . . to a large extent the scholars turned out appear incapable of thinking for themselves." We do not say that this condemnation applies equally to New Zealand, but it is true here also, we think, that in the capacity for thinking those who have passed through our schools fall short of the standard which might be expected. The general standard of education is high. In knowledge and in culture we doubt if any country could show a higher general level; but can it be said that these people, otherwise well-educated, are able to think clearly for themselves? Is the collective judgment any sounder than in other democracies? We are not disposed to place the full responsibility on the teachers. The fault lies in part with the system under which so many particular things are made an end in themselves—rather than a means. It is this that we have had in mind when we have discussed "agricultural bias" proposals with misgiving. We want no bias—neither towards commerce and the professions (as al: present) nor towards agriculture' (as proposed), but a citizen with balance, able !o sec for himself how llic prosperity ol the country may be attained.