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Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1922, Page 2

Thf. subject of education has been rather much in mind of late in this little community, first by reason of the winter school and next by the visit of the Minister for Education. Contemporaneous we have sport also in mind, very much in mind as tho keenness of the

football competitions grow. A Sydney paper lias lately been analysing tile question of sport and education, and believes too much attention and certainly too much prominence is being given to sport and recreation to the neglect of education. This applies to senior and juniors alike. If the seniors are not able to join in the field sports, they become partisan followers, and both grades fur recreation jiufposes spend much time dancing and picturing. A little reflection and it will be agreed educational pursuits are rather neglected to the loss of the community as well as the individual. Also, the sporting "hero” is very much praiseft in advance of the successful student. Commenting on the matter, a Sydney paper thus reflects:—There can be nothing more certain than that it is the man of brains who advances his country rather than the man of brawn. It is not only “beneath the rule of men entirely great” that “the*pen is mightier than the sword.” That superiority is the common experience of all climes and centuries. Agammelnlion dies, but Homer lives for ever—“the swords of Caesars, they are less than rust; the poet doth remain.” England is great because of Shakespeare and AVatt rather than because of Marlbo- , rough and Doctor Grace. Thus “to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” and a moderation in the appetite fob sport is as necessary as a moderation hi the appetite for liquor. It seefils that tlie time is near when, if this appetite be not checked with discrimination and firmness its increase will grow with what it feeds on until a future generation may well come to regard the mntCwlio can leap more nimbly tliah his fellolvs, or Who Cap stroke an “eight” to victory as indubitably greater than, tho producer of a noble book or a great remedy, or a useful invention or a iiew art. If that day should come when a ndn s shall be honoured by bis country above a Diogenes, a Carpentier, above a Pasteur, or a Trumper above a Farrar, the present “educational system” will not be bold blameless. If it be placed upon its trial for its responsibility it may be hard put to it to answer the indictment