The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1916. THE ORGANISATION OF EDUCATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1916. THE ORGANISATION OF EDUCATION.

It is safe to assume that, as yet, no perfect system of education has been evolved. The civilised nations have all directed more or less attention to this vitally important subject, and according to their lights have made a certain amount of progress. One of the great lessons that the war has forced upon us is that education is not merely the imparting of knowledge in varying degrees to enable the people of a country to become intellectually progressive, but it is the foundation of a country's greatness as represented by its industries and other economic forces. It has been the proud boast of the British that they are above all things a commercial nation, but the war has revealed to .us the fact that no nation can logically lay claim to being great commercially that has not coordinated its educational system with its industrial, and this cannot be accomplished except under a definite State policy. We have only to pass under review what Or many lias achieved in the l-.st half century, and then to consider the methods whereby her dream of world conquest was fostered by her commercial and industrial organisation. It will be

at once apparent to the unbiased student that Ormany's military greatness has only been rendered possible by her commercial and industrial expansion. She utilised and fostered science in industry and education, co-ordinating every activity in the State to the one great purpose of obtaining a military and commercial supremacy that should ho world-wide. To her undoing she pursued this mad idea, but that does not militate against the soundness of her organisation, or the wisdom of her educational, methods. The difference between the British and German educational aims may be said to be this: Britain's system is for the individual, while Ormany's is for the aggrandisement of the body politic. If we are to establish our commercial and industrial systems on a satisfactory basis, the foundation must be suitable for the superstructure. The time has arrived whep we must prepare to light Ormany in the trade arena. We are all agreed that this post-wiu-struggle must take place, but the question is whether there is any definitely intelligent organisation in course of creation that will provide the necessary essentials enabling us to carry on that trade war successfully and defeat the enemy in the domain where he excels. We can only do so by profiting by his example in systematising the educational and commercial work of the nation and making efficiency a State policy. The one great essential is the scientific and practical development of the resources of the country and its people. This necessarily involves a greater and more methodical use of science as the main factor in making the country as far as possible self contained. The outstanding lesson of the war is the imperativeness of scientific training, and this has led to a complete revolution in British policy, for whereas, formerly, the scientists and inventors -were regarded rather as nuisances than benefactors, the Government has just recently commandeered the nation's intellect in much the same way as it took possession of iU manufacturing establishments. The encouragement thus given cannot fail to have a far-reaching effect, Two great needs are skill and adaptability, 'but the Government must be responsible for the necessary co-ordination, which, after all, is largely organisation. To attain to satisfactory results an educational revolution is inevitable. It is the small things chat count in success, just as genius is nothing more than plodding industry. In New Zealand our foremost industry is agriculture, and our prosperity depends on what the land yields, hence the necessity for science and agriculture to be coupled together. Much is being done at the present time, but the fringe of a fruitful system has only been touched as yet. One of our pressins needs is the encouragement of research as a means of promoting higher agricultural education. In Germany there are many agricultural colleges, tout in 'New Zealand there is a dearth of such institutions, and yet they should prove to be one of the best assets of the country. vVc need farm schools, agricultural colleges, experimental grounds and highly-trained educators—men capable of carrying out researches, and adequately remunerated. Rasearoli work in awl

culture! is just as essential as similar work ;u physical and sanitary sci -ncc. Fortunately we now have a Minister 01 Education who has broad ai" ! sordid views on the work of his depiir i'i'"it. and we also have an advisory I)ri iy. increased clliciiiiicy ean only lie muuned by education and organisation, and if we are to defeat Germany in the arena of industry and commerce there must he a great awakening, and the adoption of the only means capable of ensuring success.

TUB HOSPITAL TROUBLE. That the Hospital Board acted wisely and well yesterday in passing the motion submitted by Mr. llalcombe will be generally felt throughout the district. All that the matron asked was that a wrong impression created 'by the press report of the Board's meeting, at which the chairman stated, in reply to his enquiries as to how things were going that lie. had been told there were no complaints. Unfortunately, the Hoard failed to grasp the true nature of the matron's request, and made a blunder that they have now rectified. The whole matter has been fully dealt with in our columns, and the Board had a. manifest duty to perform in doing justice to tiie matron and Sister Campbell. The resolution carried yesterday states "that the Board had no intention of casting any reflection on the matron or on her services, but merely desired to convey that the chairman bad made the Board fully aware of all the requirements, and that the 'Board is doing its utmost to remedy the need as to the nurses' accommodation, which the Board recognises! is very great." This completely exonerates Miss Brown and her stall', as well as the medical staff, from any and every insinuation made. It is not even desirable to touch upon the final statements made 'by the chairman. The Board haje made the '•'amende honorable," and there should now be an end of the matter. Both the medical and nursing staff have done such splendid service in the cause of humanity that they deserve the highest praise, and they have earned the full confidence of the ratepayers. The Board's resolution of yesterday recognises this, so that in future we may expect the stall' to be treated with that courtesy and consideration to which they are justly entitled. It has been a sorry business, and it is pleasing to feu? t?n>t it lias been settled in the one and only right manner.