Addresses on Educational Subjects. By S. S. Laurie. (University Press,
Cambridge.)—Mr. Laurie, in respect of his educational views, may be described as a Liberal-Conservative. It would, he thinks, be a "national misfortune" if the Humanistic cause in education were to capitulate to the Realistic. To a teacher who is sound on that fundamental point, we would willingly concede a very wide freedom in the propositions of reform which he makes. If we are to give a youth "command over his own powers," we must both feed the mind and discipline the mind. For the attain- ment of these objects, there is no subject that can compare for a moment with language. " Why," he goes on to ask, " should lankauige be raised to this eminence ? Because it is the sole universal in the intellectual education of every human being." We take these extracts from one of the most important of the papers in the volume, on "The Organisation of the Curriculum of Secondary Schools ;" but all are, in their several directions, worthy of atten- tion, so suggestive and carefully considered are they. Two notable facts we may mention in this connection as showing what the feeling of the public is, as apart from the theories of educa- tionalists. The mere passing of a general resolution by the Common Council that the claims of commercial education were to be con- sidered in the City of London School, even though the present system was expressly safeguarded, was followed in the ensuing term by a smaller number of entries than had been known since the reconstitution of the school (of course, we must take for what it is worth the fact that an eminently popular and successful head- master was leaving) ; and when, in answer to a supposed demand,
the College of Preceptors instituted an examination in this sub- ject, not a score of candidates presented themselves, and this though the total number ranges between seven and eight thousand.
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