CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1918, Page 1

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —The Institute’s. cainpaign on behalf of the cause of National Education proceeds apace, and is meeting with gratifying support. This was to I "be expected. It only needs to lie brought home to the people that education is the'deciding factor in the well-being ot their children and of the nation of which these children will be the units, and they will, with few exceptions, give their adherence to the gospel the Institute is preaching.

The value of the child is the foundation of this gospel, and all other considerations have weight only in relation to that value. We 'want smaller classes. Why? In order that children may lie educated, not drilled; in order that each pupil may liave’an opportunity to find out and develop the good that is in him ; in order that the state may be enriched by the powers of his educated mind employed in the service he is best fitted to give. We want better class-rooms. Why? In order that, while the minds are being trained, the bodies may have opportunity to grow in health and strength ; in order that incipient disease may be outgrown in youth and resisted in.later years ; in ‘order that a sense of brightness and vitality may replace the depression of drab dinginess which is the school environment of tco many of our young people.

We want more teachers and better teachers. Why? In order that the priceless material of which the nation is to be made maw not be marred in the making ; in order that those who are entrusted with tire work of educating may really be enabled to educate. We want continuation classes. Why? In order that the'growing generation of the nation’s citizens may have some chance of acquiring the knowledge and the spirit that will enable them to discharge'the onerous duties’ of citizenship in a free democracy ; in order that the future workers shall acquire' a mental training that will enable them to cope with the complexities and monotonies ol modem industiial life, and still maintain their souls alive. And so on through want of. 1 playing-spaces, want of medical and dental treatment, w T ant of sufficient and efficient inspection, and the rest.

Why do we want all thesi? Because if they are not supplied our nation will fall out of the ranks of the nations of the world, as these make progress,while we stand still. The future bel6ngs s to those nations w hich will have taken care to cultivate their natural talents; that is to say, to train youth to give of its best instead of allowing its powers to become atropied through neglect.

We are told that all this will cost uiOnev. So it will ; but the neglect of it will cost the waste of many lives ; will cost the loss oi the product of many brilliant brains ; will Cost the enfeeblement of many families of enfeebled parents; will cost the stunting of moral growth and the undermining of. social stamina; will cost social disturbances and the instability of the public mind that waits upon ignorance ; will almost certainly cost the breakdown ot the liberty that our ancestors tought for and won : tor there is nothing more certain than that democracy and ignorance cannot exist together What monetary cost is worth weighing against such other costs as these ? Other countries are finding the necessary money, even in the midst of the turmoil and disaster ot war. In Britain the House of Commons last year voted, without question, an addition of nearly tour million pounds to the Education Estimates, and this only the introduction of a scheme.which entail the expenditure of eleven millions more. France, during the war, has extended the period of education in some directions to the ißth year, the United States to the rSth year, Germany to the 21.st year. Will the people of New Zealand —the richest countrv per capita in the world — say that they cannot afford it? If th’ev are told the plain ( truth they will sav it, and the plain truth is that the welfare ot their own children demands improved education. For their own growth, their own health, their own happiness, their own usefulness, they need it; and not less do they need it for the future industrial development, and civic peace of the nation. Let the people be clearly and insistently told that this is the greatest need of all, and they will not say it will cost too much.

I am, etc., H. A. Parkinson. Secretary, N.Z.E.I Wellington, April 15th, 1918.