CURRICULA AND CAREERS
[To the Editor of the SPEcr.vroa.] Sur,—At the Headmasters' Conference nearly a year ago, Dr. Norwood criticized the curricula at our public schools as being dictated by the academic demands of the Universities, to which not ten per cent. of the pupils go, to the exclusion of the interests of commerce. He condemned, in fact, the time spent in obtaining a rudimentary knowledge of at least one dead language until a school certificate is work.
Where- once scholarship was sufficient equipment for life, this is so no longer. For the modern world, a modern language, knowledge of world history, world communications, science and political economy are all essential.
Even the clever boy—the boy up to the Honour Mods Standard, who perhaps gets full value from the niceties of expression, the accuracy and beauties of the classics—has not time for all this : one or the other must suffer. But for the average boy—to borrow Dr. Alington's expression—the boy who is no scholar, for whom verses are classical jig-Saws to be solved by the expert use of the Gradus—classical educa- tion is merely mental gymnastics at the expense of equipment for the world.
Can a detailed study of a modern language provide a sub- stitute for a classical education which will combine equal Mental training with usefulness in after life 7 It is claimed that for the average boy, at any rate, it will do so : if it falls short for the clever boy, which is more important for him—mental training or equipment for the world ? Only a parent, with his knowledge of the boy's future, can decide that, and it is there- fore suggested that parents should have the power of making the choice between a classical or modern education as soon as a boy goes to Iris private school, instead of, as now, having to wait until after the school certificate.
Thanks to the " dictation of the Universities," this can only be effected if they abandon their demand for an obligatory dead language—action which only the Ileadmasters' Conference can persuade them to take.
The duty of the next Headmasters' Conference is therefore 'clear : not to dismiss the subject after an " interesting dis- cussion," as was done a year ago, but to reach a decision on which action can be taken--action from which it is hoped will result a modern side to the school certificate, to the common entrance examination, to our private schools. The education of the nation will have gone to the dogs ! Perhaps ; but our boys may be better equipped for this modern 1:ingressive ( Brigadier- General).
Wallop House, Nether Wallop, Hants.
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