COMPETITION IN SCHOOLS.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 April 1928, Page 1

COMPETITION IN SCHOOLS.

“ Competition between boy and boy, or girl and girl, is merely the earthly side of something far nobler, as, indeed, is the ease with all competition in life. Properly conceived, it raises the whole level of society by the very fact that it should bring out the full forces, moral as well as intellectual, ol those who are concerned in the struggle for efficiency. No doubt in the strain and stress of the Industrial Revolution this side of competition was often overlooked, and men came to speak of economic and industrial competition as evil in itself, while in fact it was only the method of the competition that was evil.” -“Times Educational Supplement.”

“ OXE-C H 1 Li)J SM. ” ‘‘The use of birth control is having a. deleterious effect upon women. it is producing that terrible monstrosity—the only child. Wc may conic to speak, not of drink, but of ‘ only-cliildism ’ as the greatest curse of this country. We see the young man who won’t marry because he won’t leave his mother. People say: ‘How beautiful.’ The truth is that lie won’t leave his mother because lie is a baby and won’t break the tie. He can’t do without her. Wo want fully grown men who will leave home and take a wife, not as a second mother, hut as a mate." —Dr. Alice Hutchison, of Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Tavistock Clinic for Nurses, at tlie Conference of Health Visitors and School Nurses. THESE. DIARIES.

“Some diarists delilx*rately write lor publication—some lew leave instructions that their diaries shall he destroyed. But the great majority leave their records without any instructions whatsoever, and it is in connection with these that the disputable question of publication arises. Tlie temptation to publish sensational indiscretions is great,” writes Air Arthur Ponsonby, M.P., in the “Daily Herald.” There is a considerable difference between immediate publication and eventual publication. Immediate publication means, in some eases, disclosing tlie inner recesses of the diarist’s miiul to those who knew Him personally, and risking giving offence by publishing his comments and criticisms oil people still living. It is likely to damage the reputation ol the diarist, and it only ministers to a passing craving for disclosures and scandals on the part of the diarist’s eon temporaries. Eventual publication of n diary is quite another matter. All the unhealthy element of shocking, offending, and tickling contemporaries is eliminated. You receive a first-hand hit of human history, a record of human character, possibly some sidelights on history, and in all cases, a psychological study ol profound interest.”

THE GREAT INVASION. “Women’s invasion of the domain which lias hitherto been regarded as exclusively man's is likely to increase as time goes on, and it may he that, they will introduce into business life noiv theories and new practices. T find, for instance, that woman has a keener appreciation of values than man. and I see no reason why she should not find some means ot transferring to big business that inherent genius she possesses tor retail buying. Woman again is, as a rule, less of a gambler than man. and though the taking of legitimate risks is a necessary factor in business success, woman’s pi-oneness to look before she leaps might have tendered to exercise a restraining influence on certain hoards of directors who have plunged their companies into financial morasses.”— Sir Harold Bowden.

WILL CARE FOR TRAVELLERS One of the most romantic business mergers, tlie effects of which will he felt throughout the world, is being carried out between the International Sleeping Car Company and the world-wide-known firm of Thomas Cook and Son. Ltd,, (says the London “Daily Mail” of February 7.)

By tlie terms of the merger Cook’s will he absorbed by the Sleeping Car Co., which will take over both the tourist and hanking business.

Afr E. IT. Cook will remain managing director of the famous firm which heats his name, and the business will go on as usual, lml under the control of the Sleeping Car Company. The merger is expected have most important results from the point of view of public utility and travel as the combination will greatly facilitate the world-wide work of the Sleeping Car Company. Henceforth this company will not only convey travellers over every railway and steamship line in the world and provide hotel accommodation for them, but will also transact their hanking and exchange business, no matter where they may Vie. Tt is estimated that the merger will effect a saving of at least £500.000 a voar by the elimination of duplicated services. Tn New York £-10,000 a year will be saved in rentals.

THE CAUSE OF PEACE. ‘‘The cause of peace, like every othei progressive cause, can only be loiwauled hv practical measures embodied in a definite instrument, and it is the practical measure, not the pious aspiration of the moral maxim, which constitutes the problem and the obstacle. But it is a’good thing that America should be talking thus in straightforward terms the language of peace, and show- j ing her eagerness to play a part in the processes of peace. There is little doubt that the extent to- whi ‘h an\ American Government may induce its people to become involved in those delicate and difficult processes will depend very largely nr. the sincerity and reality of the peace movement ; n Europe.—“ Daily News.” outlaw nations. ‘•The outlawed nation must he an ‘aggressor’ nation.” asserts the “Observer.” “We must lt-arn to regard as the ‘aggressor’ any nation which refuses to submit any dispute not of a purely domestic character to arbitration or mediation. In all cases prolonged delay "before resorting to violence is the quintessential necessity of any peace system. Any nation opening precipitate hostilities against another should incur the ban of the rest. Tha is what the ‘outlawry of war’ means. Without it. there can bo no meaning in the phrase—Will America cion.sent in the end to share in establishing some means of defining that.-’

THE UNKNOWN TEACHER. “T sing the praise of the unknown teacher. Great generals win campaigns. but it is the unknown soldier who wins the war. Famous educators plan new systems of jvedflgogy, but it is the unknown teacher who delivers and guides the young. He liven •" oh-

scurity and contends with hardship. For him no trumpets blare, no chariots wait, no golden decorations are decreed. He keeps the watch along the borders of darkness and makes tlie attack on the trenches of ignorance and folly. Patient in his daily duty, he strives to conquer the evil powers which arc the enemies of youth. He awakens sleeping spirits. He, quickens the indolent, encourages tho eager, and steadies the unstable. He communicates bis own joy in learning and shares with boys and girls the best treasures of liis mind. He lights many candles which, in later years, will shine back to cheer him. This is his reward. Knowledge may be gained from books; but tlie love of knowledge is transmitted only by personal contact. No one has deserved bettev of tlie republic than the unknown teacher. No one is more worthy to be enrolled in a democratic aristocracy, ‘king of himself and servant of mankind ” —Henry van Dyke.