IDEALS IN EDUCATION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 4

IDEALS IN EDUCATION

Our Own Correspondent.)

Wellington Headmaster's Credo TRAINING FOR LIFE

» iFrom

WELLINGTON, This Day. "Having now completed a decade as headmaster of this great school, I want to communicate to you a few of my convictions as a teacher — a sort of schoolmaster 's credo," said the headmaster, Mr. W. A. Armour, in speaking at the annual prize-giving at Wellington College last night. "First: I believe that the aim of a headmaster is the production of good citizens. The soul of education is discipliee — discipline of tbe mind, the body, and spirit. Citizenship in a country where liberty still has a meaning involves obligations of a peculiarly grave kind. "Second, I believe that all forrnal education is a means to a single end — namely, tlie cultivation of a personality. Every cfiild should be trained to live the fullest and happiest possible life as an individual, while at the same time contributing his full share to tho life of the community in which be is placed. "Third, I believe that the purpose of all education is the production of good men, which is not quite the same as the production of good citizens. If we can

teach the boys to think, we are doing more than improving their minds: we are giving them the power to interpret experience and to make wise ehoices, We are developing character when we implant an impatience with loose thinking, with shoddy and superficial conelusions, with acquiescence in the second rate. » "There is undoubtedly a close relationship between physical education ^nd the education of the mind. Games are the natural British way of seeuring bodily fitness and games make three most important contributions to the production of good men. These are physical fitness, the development of the team spirit or esprit de corps, and, what is perhaps the highest but least recognised contfibution, the artistry developed in the good exponent of any game. The proper training of the physical, mental, aesthetic, emotional and spiritual sides of a body's nature will ilt liiro to use his loisure time wis6lljr and well."