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LARRIKINISM AND THE REMEDY.

[to THE EDITOR.] '■ ; Sir, — In your leader of Thursday rt increase of larrikinism you seem. unwilling and desirous of evading the strong arguments of those who point to the present secular system of education as the primary cause of this social - evil,and simply desire u to correct what appears to you an error.” You wish teachers to insist upon respectful behavior, &c., but how can you expect teachers to obtain such results from'a system which does not educate, but : simply consists in imparting crammed instruction. I say that the present system does not “ educate,” for what is “education?” By referring to 'the Latin derivation of the word, cducare, we find the answer to be “from truth ,to truth.” Now, a system which excludes religion from its teachings does not, I maintain, educate, and in support of my assertion allow me to quote the words of a few eminent men, deep thinkers, and men whoso utterances are worth listening to. To begin with Monsieur Guizot. He'says—“ To educate is to train, develop, strengthen, and .polish all;the faculties—physical, intellectual, moral, and religious—which I constitute in the child nature'and human ;dignity. The aim of education ought :to be to raise the mind of the youngest ’child to the highest objects, to develop ;its mental faculties. Philosophy, legislation. literature, intellectual cultivation, jfrom. the science of the Universities to ‘.the’ reading and writing of primary •schools, will not form the inward life of ;man, therefore cannot educate him. Huxley, speaking likewise on -this [subject, beautifully supports these views. “ The ultimate end of education is to promote morality and refinement by teaching men to discipline themselves, and by leading them to see that the highest happiness to be obtained >s by striving towards those high peaks where, resting on eternal calm, reason discerns the undefined but bright'ideal of the highest good, ‘ A cloud by day, a, pillar of lire by night.’ " To teach them to discipline themselves, and to postpone the gratification of selfish desire to the call of duty, is the only worthy aim of education. Again, Sir Hercules Robinson,, our late Governor, in a speech delivered at Wellington, expressed himself as follows ; —ln the present,, con.(Jitioh of society, teaching, to bo effi- , cacious, must rest on a religious basis. The world has not yet been universally attracted to well-doing by the simple Gonfucian precept “Be virtuous and you will be happy," and until it attains to .;such. perfection it will bo well, not to discard 'the influence which lias so far proved most efiicacious in or resting the motions of evil in the human heart.” Such beitig a few of the many opinions I could produce of men well able to judge, I ask you, Sir, what else but ruffianism can you expect from a system^of so-called education which lacks in its very foundation the principle aini which true education requires—fhe ■ doral and religious training of the intellect. “ Ruffianism,” to use your own term, must inevitably be the result,and it has, produced such results in all countries where the pure secular system has been, adopted for any length of time. I shgll take an early opportunity tO' continue my arguments on the subject. ; .1 am, &c., , ; i M. de H. DUVAL.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SCANT18820311.2.14.1

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2797, 11 March 1882, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
541

LARRIKINISM AND THE REMEDY. South Canterbury Times, Issue 2797, 11 March 1882, Page 2

LARRIKINISM AND THE REMEDY. South Canterbury Times, Issue 2797, 11 March 1882, Page 2

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