The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-25
BRYCE ON EDUCATIONAL,
DEyEIOIsJilcNT

DEVELOPMENT.
! An interesting and admittedly most
serious problem to which the British
mind is being directed at present is
reform in education; or, rather. it were
| batter I" say, development OF cIuca-
ton along lines necessary to meet
changed ana changing economic aud
sociological conditions. The subject
has beon under discussion recently in
various educational bodies, has proved
prolific of remedial suggestions from
many leading educators aud las
evoked widespread comment from the
press
At tho latc meeting of the Conference
Of educational Associations in Eng
land. the leading speaker was viscount
Eryoc. former. ana for so long. British
ambassador at Washington and who is
as wcil-known and rs greatly admired
in this country az in his own. Es-
pecial weight attached to the exam
haSsador's words, We arc told. because
OF his excellent opportunities for study
Ing educational problems in the United
States. and the vast knowledge OF Eu
ropean history he brought to his task
In reviewing Ills address. the London
Spectator SAYS there arc times when
thosc who take part III educational dis
cnFsionS scem to think that il young
people can bat bc taught sufficient
number OF subjects for u sufficient
number OF years, the use to which thov
put their knowledge is :. very second
AIRY matter. All tho State has to 500 TO
rs that the list of subjects to be studied
shall grow longer every ycar, and that
the school masters and school-mis-
,resscs shall show an equally cxpan-
sirc power in teaching them" Par
cnthctically, who shall say that this
idea, this obsession, of the ultra
advanced educators is singular TO Eng
laud'
Niscount Bryco took issue squarcly
with that cult. Having ascortainod
that tho vast sum OF nearly Caooooo oo
is expended annually for public cdu-
cation, he contcnded that before moro
money was spent the state should
take stock of the whole existing sit
uation and make sure that the pres
crit expenditure is bcin;; wisely and
economically applied" lie caustically
and most trutbfully observed that
economy is nov a word of fear to tho
educational enthusiast. lie takes il
TO mean contcntmcnt with what has
already been achieved. whereas to him
each fresh outlay is chiefly interesting
because ii may supply occasion for
further demand Tho application
ncaror homo is obvious
Viscount Bryce also parted company
with the advanced educators on am
other point he pleaded for moro
attention to secondary education as
the most vital thing for Tho progress
of nation. Tho whole history OF n
nation he argued. us not determined
by the number Of children who arc
keep; at school until they arc fourteen.
ana then turned out TO forget what
they have learned, as soon as possible.
! nation moves forward less bv i;s
average citizen than by it's strongest
and best minds. TO make tho most ar
these minds. loss than 10 per cent OF
the whole. and to send on To the uni
NcrSity the very strongest and finest OF
these Was, the speaker held. the
best Investment - nation could make"
NiscoUnt Erycc, therefore. warned his
hearers against lowering tho stand.
ard OF a university.
NJ the same time. in a plea for =
proper synthesis Of scientific and hu
manistic subjects" for system tina.
would train in thinking from the