The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-09-04 00:00:00

toadiii)ae C'lscacr.

kTI: It9Al, SF P UEMBER 1 'l, 1830.

POl CLAIi EDI CATION.

THE advance of civilization Lnd inteligelice is
always commensurate with the progress of edu-
cation ; and during no period of our national
history has this proves been more conspicuous
than durtug the o;:st generation. Especially
since the Act of 1870 has the instuction of the
young in this country been regarded as of para-
mount importance; and the education rate im-
posed by that statute is cheerfully paid as enabl-
ing the children of the butnner classes the
better to fight the battle of life. Upon the
principle " that the more cl.;tl be learned, the
more can be ez:rned," the advantages which were
formerly confined to the higher and middle
wa!ks of life are now deepened so as to include
those who at one time were considered good
enough to be employedimerely as hewers of wood
and frawers of water, but amougst whom the
procetts of instruction discovers in-
t?lkets which if not answaring to the description
of the poet Gray, and guiding "hands that the
ro,,i of empire rnight have swayed," has yet
tbrimght out many a useful helper in the work of
life.

Some nations learn the :value of education
through misfortune; and although happpily that
is not the case with us, it is commonly thought
that another great European country the em-
pire of Austria—has greatly improved the edu-
cation of her people since her defeat at Sadowa.
She has certainly set bers&f to do so, for she
saw that while the Prussans may have won that
battle because they had the needlegun, the
reason they had the needle-gun was that they
were better educated. The lesson which
Austria drew from the war was therefore that t f
the necessity for popular instruction, and new
dueational laws were speedily introduced. The
Prussi,:ns have indeed the reputation of being
the best educated people in Eurepc. They
cenvered Austria in 1866, and Preece in 1870
because: as many id this cora-lay considered,
they lierw what hey were it out. The OCrrinie
army, v.hich forced the passes of Bohemia,
euvironed Metz, besieged Patis, and conquered
Fraece, was no: a mere mechanical contrivance
lv carryieg ou war and producing slaughter.
P. was a vast beidy of educated men, to whom
knawiedge was power. It thus came to pass
that by the instrumentality of this terrible agent,
Austria, which had so long dominated Italy, had
11r empire rent in twain, and France, whose
military strength long hung like a superstition
upon the heart of Europe, was bumbled in the
dust. The Germans ere at this moment not,
only the best educated people in Europe, but
. the most powerful from a military point of view.
Our own Education Act, passed as it was only
ten years ago, yet requires time to show its
fruits, which sire not likely to manifest them-
selves in deeds of conquest like those which
have distinguirled the Germane, but iu the
Peaceful progress of civilisation. Another ten
years, and she results of the seed that, has been
sown will be more clear'y percevible. Mean•
~vaite, there is one point well worthy of attention
by fl meritiree pcople al:jell has derived so touch
of its prestie from deeds of valour upou tLe sea.
The male pi potation of a collet:1y which is
entirely surrounded by water ought to be ebb
to Rahn ; but notwithstanding the numerous
lives lost annually through the neglect of that
,:rt, no concerted or ssstematic effort is made to
promote the love of an exercise which is et once
ocalthful, enjoyable, and more useful than any
-rher. The London Swiremiog Club has done
a great deal towards popularising the recreation,
but isolated efforts of this kind, if unsupported
by an general movement, are not of much value.
Mutt is really wanted is that swimming should
be made one of the regular branches of edu-
cation of every boy and girl. In the case of
some schools it is not easy to provide swimming
baths ; but after all, these are comparatively
few ; and parents and guardians would, for the
moat part, fully appreciate the advantage of
their children learning the art, and would pay a
small amount extra per annum. This would
soon recoup the proprietors of private schools
for any outlay they might incur, while after a
short time these balls would prove a lucrative
inve4went. jt would be very advantageous
for the School Board authorities to provide
awl.mming baths at all their schools. It has
been sucesael that this would be a good
oraw.trieily for chcritable people to conic for-
ward. Why should. not swimming ba:ls be pre-
as>nted to various Board Schools iu the san.o
way as drinking fountains are given? The
start 6nly is requir• d, 7,tul thre are many who
:••ul aesist in pi omotieg so praiseworthy an
jct. Thero is not a summer now passes
weich does uot witness the desolation of many
.s luque through a luck of the knowledge of
swimming, one which is Do more difficult of
attainment than many of those that are acquired
as being held to be necessary as a proper pre-
paration for setting out on the serious business
of life.