INFLUENCE OF MODERN EDUGATION ON THE WORKING MAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3014, 7 November 1891, Page 5 (Supplement)

INFLUENCE OF MODERN EDUGATION ON THE WORKING MAN.

A Hi/MottOFS discourse by Mr Kaltcnegger during the general debate on the budget in tke Austrian Chamber of Deputies bas been going the rounds of contU Mental papers. Mr Kaltenegger's criticism is so fresh and treats in so amusing a way with the morals of the time, that the animation produced by the popular orator in the parliamentary proceedings dealing with the grievous influence of modern education on the labouring classes, those of the country districts in particular, warrants us in translating his remarks on the subject for the benefit of your readers. The following is what he said : —The young peasant of the present day says " I am above tending the oxen," while the young girl will tell you : " It is disagreeable to me to look after pigs, their odour is objectionable ; I want to be a cook or a teacher, farming has no charms for me." Well and good ! The old antique simplicity of manners, which in these our days ia ridiculed even in country distriots, is our salvation, we must come back to it. The tendencies and the teachings of our schools have to be modified, ai those who leave the schools will consent neither to work in the fields nor put their feet in the stables. (Merriment.) Besides that, the schoolmaster has lost all authority over the urchins—the devil's own—given over to hii care. If he reprimands these larrikins they imult him, if he administers to them a sensible correction, he gets punished by the school authorities. Under such conditions, what can he make out of his pupils ? All this has to be changed. If one is to have authority over pupils so that they may receive the education they require, they have to be touched strongly . . . on the bottom of the back, and authority must not be wanting to touch them there. (Merriment). Gentlemen, —Poor mankind is ruled by three facts or things. These three facts you possibly will call passions. Wβ other right-thinking ones call them pure and simply the devils. (Merriment). These three facts are called the pride of life, tho covetousness of the eyes, and the covetousness of the flesh. Gentlemen, —We who have grey hairs, and some amongst us who have no hair at all (merriment), we sometimes have trouble to remain firm under the temptation of the* three souls. (Merrimeut). Well, what do you expect from youth, naturally heedless ami giddy to resist such strong temptations, the more so when poorly prepared for the strife by the education received ? For instance, take a walk through the streets of Vicuna, and you may judge for yourself what passes. I will give you an account of what 1 have been wituees to myself. A colleague aud myself passed an art gallery on the Graben, where we observed a great rush of larrikins eager to see what objects were exposed to view. Made suspicious we thought of looking ourselves. (Cries of " Ah, you too you needs must go to see.") We went . . . but then we are men . . . aud what did we see ? What was it those urchins were iospecting ? Statues in all their nakedness —no doubt, productions of art, but still ip a state of nudity. Things like these

ought to be prohibited from exhibition in places where innocents and children have access to their exposition. From art let us go over to instruction Enter the first library and see what is offered; love storie3 and nothing else—(merriment) —romances instructing in the practice of love, etc., young folks—nay, children. This is the unique subject treated in our present days, and in the most foul and unclean manner. After the library let us look in at a theatre ; I seldom visit the play. In Vienna I have been but twice ; still I must own that what I saw there was really too strong. (Cries of : "Why did you gothere,then?") The orator replied : Beforehand I was not aware of what wan to be played—"La Femine du Diable." I must say the adulteress was represented in such a light as to produce a longing to sin one's self. (Merriment). Mothers were there, not only with their sons, but with their daughters as well, and the whole of the family partook of this foul teaching. At first the young girls may not have understood the lesson presented before them ; but they may have reflected upon it, and would not be ulow to understand the meaning afterwards. Such is the instruction tendered our youth on every side. Never under circumstances such as these will it be possible for a Christian to vote fer the budget of public instruction —at anyrate, not to provide funds to spread such fatal lessons.