Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-24
GERMANY "THOROUGH"
IN EVERY RESPECT
cognized as Leading Characteristic
Of German Educational Methods.
AUTHORITY NEVER QUESTIONED
The Pedagogue-Jingoi Fostered
Under School System-Espionage.
Music and Literature Designed to
Develop Patriotic Spirit.
BY r. NJ. KELLY.


LONDON. July 23.-"Thorough" was
the policy of the great Stanford
Thorough" Is the policy OF modern
Germany: thorough in her program.
her organization her ruthlcssness. She
faces her goal (such as It is) unblink-
ing. and no consideration Of honor. JUS
tice or humanity are allowed for one
instant to stand in her way. Ultimate
expediency az Pan-Germanism con-
ceives It. Is the sole guide she permits
to sway her conduct: the end justi-
nes the means" Her organization
leaves nothing to chance. AS a con-
sequence in August, 1914, she. and she
alone. among the actors OF Arranged
don had the colossal advantage OF
ready-made plan OF action and the
Instruments to hand for its INN cdiatc
realization.
Thoroughness-what their other
merits or dcfects-has long been the
acknowledged hallmark OF German
educational methods. Much as has
been written oD this subtect-it Is not
SO many years since II was pet hobby
OF writer's on pedagogical fancy that
public attention has been all but ex-
clusively attracted to the finished prod
uct OF the system. / have had the eN-
perience in my boyhood Of rubbing
shoulders with that same product In
and eleven 1 lived In one OF tho Rhine
towns. Ny habits. my surroundings.
my associations during those years
were identical with those OF any young
boche of my ago and station. In due
course I underwent rather moro than
years schooling in the local state
school tRealsymnasiun). Naturally ]
could not be cxpected-then-to draw
general deductions from my every day
experiences. but my memory is a good
one. and in regard to this period es-
pecially Slear-cut famous Jesuit
teacher Red to insist upon the import
ance of forming the earliest possible
impression upon the youthful mind.
The very clearness with which my Ger
man school days recur TO me goes to
prove the shrewdness OF the German
official educat!onalists in catching
their victim young and keeping hold
81 him when once caught.
point which. conceive. the demo-
cratic notions Of the alles-nnds ex-
remc difficulty in assimilat!ng is the
almost hypnotic spell which duly con-
stituted authority has long exercised
over the ordinary German. Acquies-
ence in the d!cta of his official SUI
periors liz an ingrL.ncd superstition. He
never dreams OF questioning tho official
"befohlen" or "vcrbotcn" and hardly
understands anybody else doing so. u,
seems probable that Lis experiences
in the general upheaval Of the last
four years has ha,'iy shaken his out
look in this as in other respects: but
II was IN Invaluable stake upon which
to balk wheh tho game commenced.
and II we should be so unfortunate as
TO allow Germany any advantage be-
tween this and thu Gay Of reckoning
Il will not be among the least OF hc-
assets. My youthful experience OF
German tra!n!ng-"s!uce when have
had no other'-secms TO me to throw
some light upon its results to-day
MORE GERMANS THAN ANY
OTHERS AMONG JE:SUI1S
The PedaEogue.-It is said that In
the Jesuit community no nation is 70
strongly represented the German.
The Jesuit principle OF absolute obedi-
ence certainly should appeal to the
German as ne have learnt to know
HIM In Germany. however. the res
ervation Saving my conscience" ha.
ceased to have much meaning. Pubic
opinion far one can gather II
existent, has nothing TO oppose to on :
cial organization. Whether Germany
officially recognizes corporal punish
ment l cannot say. but in my time
she had not apparently systematizei
It. II. as commonly happens--I have
compared my own experience with that
OF men who have since como in touch.
with the system--the teacher happens
TO be man OF uncomfortable temper.
heaven help the small boy uniuc!;y
enough TO fall foul of him. ! have
repeatedly witnessed Instances 81
England would have la id the teacher
responsible open to prosecution or
bodily chastisemcnt from an indignant
parent.
Jingoism. -Patriotism in Germany Is
never left 10 develop spontaneously.
Loyalty is regarded by those in power
as a negotiable security. Much has
been written OF medieva, and monk
ish tyranny, but the true medieval
man OF the ages of faith felt himself
so much an integral part OF the sys-
tenn In which he believed that the
grandest OF his cathedraIs seemed to
him no unf1t place to betray his sense
OF humor. OF which he was innocent!y
unashamcd. The old Roman epithet OF
"divus" might aptly be applied by Ger
many TO Wilhelm H. and his family.
The lack OF humor with which that
nation has long nonplusel us Is no
where moro obtrusive than in the demi.
gods halo which invests the Kaiser
1t is the only explanation of the UNI
blushinS publication OF most of his
bombastic utteranccs. From his tend
crest years the youthful subject of the
Hohenzollerns is trained to regard th,,
Kaiser as above the law even of humor
To attempt even the most innocent
jokes upon this subject is to lie open
TO suspicious of lese majestic
This cult Is carefully fostercd under
the school system On the one hand
whatever the local patriotism OF the
German, a habit OF mind is induced
which makes it difficult in the larger
issues to distinguish Germany from
Prussia. On the other hand. while he
No ADVANCE IN DpYu1,