NATIONAL IDEALS OF EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 297, 25 May 1915, Page 8

NATIONAL IDEALS OF EDUCATION.

To the Editor. Sir,—Your report of the address given at the Brotherhood yesterday by the Rev. A. B. Chappell is interesting nailing, but it seems to me too abstract; he does not lay his finger on any particular way in which the principles he lays down, of an education that-would bo good for "body, mind, and spirit," may be applied to our present working system. I had not the privilege of hearing Mr. Chappell, so if I do not rightlv grasp his ideals, I am open to correction. What I want to know is how, in the application of his ideas, physical, moral, and spiritual education can be combined ? Take, for instance, Mr. Royd Garlick's scheme of physical instruction. Presuming that, with the drill there was also teaching on hygiene in general, the system would have" to show what habits of life—diet, drink, fresh air—as well as exercise were necessary to physical development. If that were done oiy; thing would have to bo taught which is now entirely banned—so far as the oilicial scheme of education is concerned—l mean teaching concerning the injurious effects of alcoholic drinks. Then with that should come the moral side of this important question wherein the scholars should be taught that it is the duty of the loyal citizen, and even of every loyal and true humanitarian, to .-o take care of his body, and to develop and conserve its powers, that he may be in the best condition to do his duty to his ff.Vws. Followng this, the idini would easily be educed from the scholar that since alcoholic drink was so plainly injurious to the human body, "it *vas an evident moral duty to totally abstain: and. further, the spiritual lesson might be drawn to show that this self-control, true temperance, responding to a moral constraint, would result in the highest spiritual good to those who practised it. Thus it might be shown how "history, civics, ethics, and religion" might all be brought out in education that is not mere "cramming." This i 3 a mere idea, or "ideal," of what education might be; and perhaps next time Mr. Cliappell speaks on education he will show this more in detail, as I feel sure he can do. At any rate, it is time that there was some education in our schools on what is now occupying the minds of the leading men in so many countries: What shall we do with the drink? I say, totally abstain from it. We know a little of w|iat harm it does. Who will show that it does any good?—I am, etc., 0. H. M. May 25, 1015.