Sm,—Mr Clough Williams-Ellis has stated a very important prin- ciple;
it is that the theories of reformers should be tested on a small scale before the whoie nation is committed to hazardous experiments. All progress is based upon research, and scientific research is only a methodical process of trial and error. Research cannot be left to private individuais; every Government Department should can y out organised and continuous research in the subjects with whiut it is concerned This, does not imply that every civil servant shoulo be a scientist, or a fully trained research worker, but it is essential that the senior members of the civil service should have a knowledge of the methods and scope of scientific research. At the present time, one of our most urgent needs is for research in education. We want to know what subjects we should teach our children, and the best method of teaching those subjects. This is not a matter that can be left to the teaching profession. The teachers are fully occupied with the daily round of lessons, and have no time to devote to experi- ments. If any organised and continuous research is to be carried out, it can only be done by a special research branch working under the Board of Education. The matter is important The sort of world we bequeath to our children depends chiefly upon the educa-
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