New Britain herald., 1918-12-03

much on the past; our eduCationIsts
have too little regard for the present
and less idea for the future Ours
cannot be considered a proper system
of education for progressive nation.
1t is scarcely necessary to enter into
an argument as to the advantage of
Roman letters over Chinese ideo-
graphs, and the greater utility of the
western alphabet as compared with
the Japanese syllaba known as
kama. This utility is seen not only in
the diffusion Of knowledge and civil
lzation at an earlier age than in
Japan, but in the great convenience
enjoyed in the despatch of kilograms,
the Romaji being much more quick
and accurate than our system, to say
nothing of being able to use a type
writer in writing. In newspaper work
and the general process Of diffusing
knowledge the adoption of RomaJi
would be a great advantage Our
press could then use the linotype ma
chine, and our news agencies could
send messages by telegraph as tho
western people do. No wonder that
our adhering still to the present obso-
lete system of writing seems to west
ern nations absurd, and enough to
keep us in isolation as a people.
REDWOODS MEET TONIGHT.
The Redwoods football team of this
city will hold an important meeting
Tonight at Manager Smiths office,
to complete their financial affairs and
other matters which will be brought
up, and to arrange for big banquet
which they will hold on next Saturday
evening. This is the most important
of
sea son is closed, and plans will be
formed for the year 1919, when the
Redwoods expect the most triumph
ant season in their history
Since my return home I am dou-
bly, convinced of the unwisdom OF
burdening young minds with needless
work. What does child undergoing
secondary education want with Chi
nese composition! Chinese lessons arc
an insufferable burden on the minds
of our middle school students. Advo
Gates of national adoption of RomaJS
writing have long been engaged in
familiarizing the public mind with the
advantages that would thus accrue to
the nation by following the
example of western nations
in this way; but officials are
slow to take the hint, lest the nation
be led away from it's old landmarks.
Most of our great scholars and philo-
logists desire the adoption of western
style of writing in Japan, and the
press is full of articles in support OF
such q course. The only opposition
to it is based on national prestige, az
already suggested. Language is re-
garded by our old fashioned officials
a sacred deposit entrusted to the ma
ton; and they think that any Serious
or radical change in regard to il
would be tamperng with the moral
and social foundation of the nation.
in this way the intellectual progress
of Japan is suffering an enormous
hindrance.
I'm Japan, at present, compulsory
education is limited to six years,
while in Germany, France and the
United States eight years are re-
uuired To assume that Japan, with
the insuperable handicap of her ideo-
graphs, expects to get as much out
of six years of compulsory education
as western nations do in eight with
the advantage Of their superior
system of writing, is simply astonish
ing, Our statesmen affirm that eX-
tension of the years for compulsorE
education is prevented by financial
reasons but if Romaji were adopted
the present nGeO Tor eALSnSlOn WoulO
not be so pressing. No one has any
doubt as to which would ultimately
benefit the nation more.
"In Japan the legal age for mar
rage is / 5 for the woman and IT for
the man, which hinders education;
but if the years for compulsory edu-
cation were extended what a differ
ence it would make in the intellec-
tual as we'll as moral requirements OF
the rising generation! It would in
deed be we'll if our term for compul-
sorry education could be heightened
to nine years instead of six, and then
two years of the term could be de-
voted to Industrial education so as
to prepare the pupil for earning a
livelihood. One of the most hopeful
signs in Japanese society is the in
creasing willingness of the upper
classes to enter upon active and USE
full careers: but that the whole ia
ton may be filled with a proper spirit
of industry and achievement is too
much to expect without the reforms /
have suggested in our present educa-
tional system.