. THE NATION'S SCHOOLS. By H. Bompas Smith. (Longmans, Green.
664—Mr. Smith, who has been a head-master of Secondary Schools and is now Professor of Education at Manchester University with the very modern letters " M.Ed." after his name, has written a good book on the abstract theories and principles that in his Opinion should underlie British education and inspire teachers, and through them, pupils. We say a good book because the principles seem to us mainly sound and directed towards high ideals. In manner it is less good, for it is verbose and lacks the conciseness which busy teachers and administrators of education seek in books that they ought to read "out of school," though not for recreation. His guiding ideal would be one' of right living which involves the powers of freedom, unity and faith." These three qUarrties are -*hat he contends in successive chapters should always be present in the minds of the nation generally in its "public opinion," of the Board of Education and Local Authorities, of the teachers and, if possible, of the boys and girls. The book is written in excellent temper, though it is possible to detect signs of past tussles with H.M. Inspectors and the Board. (He would have a real and permanent Board on which the teaching profession would always be represented.) Mr. Smith regards education as a high adventure, and rightly puts religion as the highest and most adventurous sphere, in which he denounces the folly of thinking that religion need not be taught or can be taught by an irreligious teacher.
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