EDUCATION OUTLOOK

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1931, Page 6

EDUCATION OUTLOOK

INFERIORITY COMPLEX ABANDONED. WELLINGTON, December 5. How New Zealand had swung from a,n inferiority complex in educational thought to a form of self-conceit was outlined by Professor J. Collie, M.A., moderator of the Presbyterian Church in -New Zealand, while addressing the students of Scots College yesterday. In the earlier days of New Zealand's educational history our removal from the, great centres of learning of the old world induced the idea that we count never equal the- attainments, of the British students, lie said. This outlook had 1 changed and we now displayed a slight tendency toward selfconceit.

“AVe discovered in the Boer AVar that our soldiers were equal to British trained men and we have also now discovered that New Zealand trained men can become equal to anything produced in the world,” the professor said. “Instance of this is given m relation to an examination which took place a good many years ago in which two of the entrants have‘come to ue leaders in the intellectual and administrative spheres of life. The one who came out at the top is one known throughout the world, Sir AVilliam Alari'is. He wrote the school song of the Wanganui College at which he had been a student. He entered into the Indian Civil Service life and has risen to bo the Governor of the United Provinces. Combined with this he has attained to great literary and scholastic ability. Another student in the same examination, lower down in the list, is to-day well known as Lord Rutherford. These examples should give an incentive to all hoys and should be an indication to them of what i,s possible in the attainment of ability and influence if they with interest and diligence apply themselves to the advantages they possess. Stressing the aims of education, the professor said it was not necessary to have elaborate equipment for the acquiring of knowledge. AVhnt was re■quired essentially was the will to learn.

“This overcomes other deficiencies and triumphs over various hindrances,” he said. “Instance of this is found in the past where boys without the modern facilities were able to attain to

grer\t heights of educational equipment and to serve the world through this with efficiency. However, the balance must be kept, and in these days bovs with such facilities should do even better in the .• educational sphere than those who had such hard struggles with circumstances ,in the past.” ■