THE WAR AS AN EDUCATOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1916, Page 4

THE WAR AS AN EDUCATOR.

It is in times of severe trial that national ideals as well as national defects become vividly conspicuous. The present vav has thrown a strong searchlight on all the nations engaged in this dire conflict, and has proved in a most conclusive manner where and how the various systems that affect national life ' make for good or otherwise. Recently, Sir Oliver Lodge, principal of Birmingham University, a pioneer of wireless telegraphy and a renowned physical research student, delivered a remarkable address in London to the members of the Educational Associations of Great Britain, and though his statements were irainly directed to driving home the lessons of t'he war, they are of world-wide interest and are of equal import to the Dominions as to Britain. At the outset of his address Sir Oliver drew attention to the fact that during a long era of peape many perils had arisen and been overlooked, but when the war came an uxe had to be laid at the root of old traditions, and, like the root pruning applied to fruit trees, the result might be be a richer crop in the future, presumably if the trenchant lessons were if ken to heart. Referring to Germany, he said that the heavy pedagogic grind, the desperate worship of material good, the soulless ad hoc preparation for business, the concentration of a purely material ideal, and its elevation into the region of worship and sentiment, was Germany's danger signal. The old sentimental Germany, with a message to the soul of the human race, had been slain, a ruthless monster taking its place, and until the dragon had ibeen exterminated, neither Germany nor the rest of the v.-orld could have peace. But Britain aiso had hoisted a danger signal. The neglect of things intellectual, sutisfaction with book knowledge, inattention to facts, concentration on physical prowess and on a passive kind of ma-tt-rial prosperity, widespread ignorance of natural facts even among the leaders, and consequent contempt for investigation and expert knowledge, ignorance of the governing classes, ignorance of all . classes, and the lack of a healthy intellectual stimulus, with a consequent falling behind in initiative. Yet the heart of the nation was rightly attuned, and the courage and personal character of its men and women of all classes had a lived It, though as by fire. Although Britain is, above all, a commercial community, yet at the commencement of the war the trade and commercial experts were not consulted, but now there was organisation.. Manufacturers now saw that they must call in scientific experts, and education must be directed towards the attainment of skill in every branch of trade, commerce and industry, while every encouragement should be given to the cultivation of an inventive faculty and to physical research and experimentation. What is probably of more value than anything else in the intellectual sphere is the faculty of concentration. There is far too great a tendency t" superficiality, whereas the great need nf the age is to get at the .facts, ami i> ■ order to achieve this object educatioT. I must be directed towards! the .end ii i view. Discovery and utilisation of tli 1 brains of a nation has hitherto not ve i ceived adequate attention, especiab E among the workers. The war has prove: > ac exceptional stimulus ggtxlotisc

and self-sacrificing devotion to country and duty, as well as emphasising the nobility of service of all kinds. It is necessary that boys in the primary sdmols should bo taught the value of bi.ilily discipline and character training. Wr Oliver Lodge considers the Jioy Scout movement was an inspiration. Daily life is apt to be thoughtless and selfish, but even now the material was sound, and when the emergency arose the metal rang true. It must be part of the education of the ordinary citizen to recognise the opportunity for service in the life of honorable industry, in the lite of creation rather than that of destruction, in the arts of peace rather than those of war. It is now that the lessons of the war should be taken to heart for the future may bring forth a struggle that will try the nations more sorely than even this terrible conflict of armß, and the strength of the British Empire must ue so organised by the development of the people on the right lines, so that the utmost vise may be made of the physical and intellectual powers of its units, and its greatness placed on a far more secure and intelligent basis than heretofore.