The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 1913. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 1913. WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY.

Advances in every direction are being made in wireless telegraphy and it is now stated that the French Government is extending the experiments undertaken last year in the use of Hertzian waves for maritime signalling, ft is, indeed, believed that the new method will prove of far more lasting value than the system now employed, as it us operative to great advantage in thick or foggy weather, which is so dreaded by mariners. In fact, many experts anticipate the gradual extinction of coast lights and expect that ships will soon get their hearings from the ticking of wireless receivers. Hitherto, the chief trouble has been that of establishing direction so as to enable a navigator to decide from which particular station the message comes, but several practicable schemes in this connection have now, it is stated, been formulated by English. German, and Italian investigators. Those involve the use of a radio-com-pass by means of which the operator can determine the ship’s position with absolute accuracy—knowledge which it is often difficult and in some eases impossible to obtain by the navigational methods now used. it is, of course, essential that the shore stations or “blind” lighthouses, as they are termed, should also he fitted with wireless apparatus. The Trinity House ofiiciaks are reported to be following 11 lis subject with interest, and are being supplied with information as to the progress and results of the experimental trials.

INFANTS AT SCHOOL. Keferring to Hi<- educational treatment of ynuo.tr children and the l modifications and amendments which are, it is hoped, soon to he made 111 the syllabus, the Christchurch Press speaks strongly and expresses the opinion that to keep little children of tender years cooped up in a .school for several hours every day is sheer enmity. The Press rightly holds that not only is isnch a practice “not in the host interests of education,” hut it is not in the best interests of the children, which is a matter of even greater importance, and goes; on to say:—“.lf children of five or siv years of ago must attend school—and we believe that it would he far better for them to ispend out of doors most of the tare now devoted

to school—t!ie lessons should he made as much like games as possible, as far 1 as feasible they should be taught out■ of doors, and they should be given,' not the unnatural discipline of sitting l still on uncomfortable little benches, ! but plenty of exercise and change of position . A tremendous lot of alien-; tion is being paid nowadays to the: psychology of childhood, the treatment' of the child and the training of the' child-mind—«o much, in fact, that one is inclined to think that a little less science and a little more common-i sense would bo for the child’s henelit. Hut in spite of all the new science of child-life, in some respects our treatment of the little ones is absolutely mediaeval, and the sooner we bring practice into tune with theory the better it should he for future generations. The solution of the difficulty is, of course, die esahlishmeut of kindergarten departments at our schools. This could not bo done all at once, even if the financial difficulties were not in the way, for proper kindergarten teachers have to undergo carotid training. Kindergaten teaching is a branch or ccfncalion thatj is almost wholly neglected in the pub-1 lie schools, and the reproach should rest upon us no longer than can be helped. A great deal has been, and is still being, done to encourage young people to continue their education aftei they have passed through the fltate schools j it is time now to consider seriously whether something should! not be done to meet the real require-! mentis of the little children, before the 1 shades of the prison house of the stan-1 dards begin to close around them.”