The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATE THE EGMONG SETTLER MONDAY, JULY 24, 1916. AN EDUCATIONIST'S VIEW.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 95, 24 July 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATE THE EGMONG SETTLER MONDAY, JULY 24, 1916. AN EDUCATIONIST'S VIEW.

A very noted educationist, Mr Edmund Holmes, who for some years held iho important position of Chief Inspector of Elementary Schools of England, in a recently published work, brings a philosophical mind, accustomed to weigh and measure the effects of training upon large numbers of individuals, to bear on education in Germany. In his book, entitled "The Nemesis of Docility," Mr Holmes examines the history of the German i nation as a physician examines ( .the medical history of. Jus cafe v He, investigates the symptoms, : ., and after carefully excluding all other possible , causes he refers them to the fundamental cause, which lies embedded hi the nation's history. Mr Holmes shows that in the time of Tacitus political power among the Germans was inherent in the mass of the people. They chose their commanders for their j military virtue and investigated them! on that account with authority, which was willingly conceded. But when the 1 Germans broke into the decaying! Roman Empire they found there aj political system in which authority was situated at the apex of the pyramid, not at the base. They found an autocratic form of government, and they were compelled to make use of it-dn* governing the populations jhait came under their sway. And so they, became infected with the autocratic microbe, which was further strengthened by the spec : fic effect of feudalism upon their tendency to split up into political fragments. The Germans were also unable to do as France and England .have done in' casting off feudalism and recovering for their peoples true freedom. In the Germans, freedom of thought and action have been gradually destroyed Mr Holmes tells us, and a docility is set up which obeys orders—even to love of country and a so-called patriotism. Why is the German subject devoted to his State Mr Holmes asks, and in reply thereto says: "Partly because the State claims his devotion and sends : him to prison if he does not give it freely. But chiefly, I think, because the State does so much for him— relieve?, him of responsibility, gives him security, order, prosperity, educates him, trains him, organises the material resources of the country, and places these at his service, fosters commerce' and manufacturing industry, and so helps him to grow rich, leads him to victory, and so enables him to hold his head high, both at

homo find abroad. In'no other country does the State do so much for the citizen, in no other country docs it exact fo much from him. There is a tacit bargain between him and it which so !':h has been faithfully observed by both I ho contracting potties. What*would happen if Mi° State failed to fulfil its side of the bargain—if »u led the citizen to defeat, for examp'e, or to financial ruin, or to social ch;os? That remains to be seen. If the State, betrayed him and so f..ri'e'-'"' its title to his devotion, \vot:H bis pir„riV/.''s"n, his love of liis country for his own sake, survive the shock and

sustain him in his trouble? I doubt it." That is just the great point at

this time, for as the mad" attempt at* world domination has failed so signally, and the docile German populace realises hows its Government hits' deceived and sacrificed it, a great mind revolution may sweep over the people and they will then in reality cry: "Death to the Kaiser !"