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Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1924, Page 2

In tlui course of an address on “TTniiiing through English" J)r Lyttelton, of Eton, said bo had come to the eonclusiou that we had neglected the mutter ol teaching and u willing through English. But mutters were improving upwards from the elementary school*. As ,\l. Tailic had said:— ‘‘l lie best education in the world is that of English Public Schools and that is atrocious." It was, l)r. Lyttelton said, on the iiitelleitunl si. e flint it was atrocious. ( hi’.dren were horn with an appetite and an altitude for knowledge, and up to the age of seven they learnt rapidly, sureiy, joyously, fusing work and play, as ne.or again in after years. They entered school at the age of seven and at the age of sixteen, with the exception of a favoured few, they had no belief in learning, and no desire for knowledge. It might be asked why be did not introduce his ideas at Eton. Though lie had u | effect dissatisfaction at the intellect cal training given to the mass

of Die lioy.s, he had not the faintest notion what to substitute for it. Nor had others. Dr. Lyttelton said lie hi d been struck by the methods set forth in “An Essay towards a Philosophy of Education,” written by the late Miss Charlotte Mason. By this method the appetite for learning, which infants, and young children wore able to satisfy, continued to lie satisfied by the constant supply of new knowledge., In the pubfic schools, on the'oilier luwnl, instead of supplying now knowledge and letting the child select and assimilate the appropriate food, they electrified an empty stomach, stimulating the logical faculty by special training through mathematics and grammar. The classics gave food to only a few—thin food, too, the study being too linguistic. In training through English there was the same danger of giving the husk without the kernel, if attention were concentrated on the language. Language should always he combined with knowledge. The minds of children were clear till they were confused with grammar and then the children did not becotno grammatical, but the grammar become childish. Reform was difficult because it could not be carried far in any single school. The schools were bound together, and could move only iu company. The preparatory schools prepared for public schools, find tho I

Public schools wore controlled by the universities.

The local branch of tl*o Returned Soldiers Association is to make an appeal to the public for further funds to aid the building scheme in hand to supply a club for the convenience of the town and district. It will have hern seen from the report published earlier in the week that the local branch has met with ft liberal response to date, and with the money available a useful and lemnnerative ball lias been provided, not only for the benotit of the soldiers’ reunions, but also for public utilities. The ball in fact is serving a much lelt want locally, and when the full scheme is completed, an ornate and useful addition to the public edifices of the town will l>e established. As a matter of fact the returned men were long ago promised this requisite meeting place and social hull. When the community very projtorly sot about the rearing of a war memorial as a monument to the fallen, one of the first suggestions made was a soldiers’ club. Tt was felt, however, that something more in keeping with the occasion should be raised, and that the war memorial. .sacred as was its purjio.se should not bo of a utilitarian character. Ami so it came about that the ccnotajili which now adorns a pleasant spot on Cass Square, came to he reared. But at the same time it was indicated from the public platform on more that one occasion and indeed on one oecation in the Town Hall in reply to a deputation from the Returned Soldiers’ Association, it was promised that when the war memorial was provided for, the soldiers' ball and club would have attention. It is due now to cany out that promise; but the task of organising for the event is falling on the returned men themselves. However, several ladies and gentlemen are cooperating willingly, and the prospects for next week’s function, it is being gleaned, arc very promising. The project deserves to succoad for a building worthy the occasion is to be provided. From the interest taken already in the scheme, and the ready support given, generous assistance may lie looked for

till the final objective is realised. Those who have the matter in hand are working to make it a success, and with tho liberal co-operation of the public the result desired will be achieved.