Book II   Theory Applied CHAPTER I LIBERAL EDUCATION IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS I NEED not waste time in attempting to convince the reader of what we all know, that a liberal education is, like justice, religion, liberty, fresh air, the natural birthright of every child. Neither need we discuss the scope of such an education. We are aware that good life implies cultivated intelligence, that, according … Continue reading

III THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNIVERSE (c) PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, HANDICRAFTS It is unnecessary, too, to say anything about games,p.234dancing, physical exercises, needlework and other handicrafts as the methods employed in these are not exceptional.[1] [1] For details see the Parents’ Union School programmes. Continue reading A Philosophy of Education Volume 6 Book 1 Chapter 10 Section 3c

III THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNIVERSE (b) MATHEMATICS THE question of Arithmetic and of Mathematics generally is one of great import to us as educators. So long as the idea of ‘faculties’ obtained no doubt we were right to put all possible weight on a subject so well adapted to train the reasoning powers, but now we are assured that these powers do not wait … Continue reading A Philosophy of Education Volume 6 Book 1 Chapter 10 Section 3b Mathematics

III THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE UNIVERSE (a) SCIENCE[1] HUXLEY’S axiom that science teaching in the schools should be of the nature of ‘common information’ is of use in defining our limitations in regard to the teaching of science. We find another limitation in the fact that children’s minds are not in need of the mental gymnastics that such teaching is supposed to afford. They are … Continue reading A Philosophy of Education Volume 6 Book 1 Chapter 10 Section 3a

II THE KNOWLEDGE OF MAN f) ART THERE are few subjects regarded with more respect and less confidence in our schools than this of ‘Art.’ Of course, we say, children should have their artistic powers cultivated, especially those who have such powers, but how is the question. The neat solution offered by Southp.214Kensington in the sixties,—freehand drawing, perspective, drawing from the round, has long been … Continue reading A Philosophy of Education Volume 6 Book 1 Chapter 10 Section 2f

II THE KNOWLEDGE OF MAN (e) LANGUAGES English is rather a logical study dealing with sentences and the positions that words occupy in them than with words and what they are in their own right. Therefore it is better that a child should begin with a sentence and not with the parts of speech, that is, he should learn a little of what is called … Continue reading A Philosophy of Education Volume 6 Book 1 Chapter 10 Section 2e

II THE KNOWLEDGE OF MAN (d) COMPOSITION COMPOSITION in Form I (A and B) is almost entirely oral and is so much associated with Bible history, English history, geography, natural history, that it hardly calls for a special place on the programme, where however it does appear as ‘Tales.’ In few things do certain teachers labour in vain more than in the careful and methodical … Continue reading A Philosophy of Education Volume 6 Book 1 Chapter 10 Section 2d

II THE KNOWLEDGE OF MAN (c) MORALS AND ECONOMICS: CITIZENSHIP  LIKE Literature this subject, too, is ancillary to History. In Form I, children begin to gather conclusions as to the general life of the community from tales, fables and the story of one or another great citizen. In Form II, Citizenship becomes a definite subject rather from the point of view of what may be … Continue reading A Philosophy of Education Volume 6 Book 1 Section 2c

II THE KNOWLEDGE OF MAN (b) LITERATURE EXCEPT in Form I the study of Literature goes pari passu with that of History. Fairy tales, (Andersen or Grimm, for example), delight Form IB, and the little people re-tell these tales copiously, vividly, and with the astonishing exactness we may expect when we remember how seriously annoyed they are with the story-teller who alters a phrase or … Continue reading A Philosophy of Education Volume 6 Book 1 Chapter 10 Section 2b

THE KNOWLEDGE OF MAN (a) HISTORY I HAVE already spoken of history as a vital part of education and have cited the counsel of Montaigne that the teacher ‘shall by the help of histories inform himself of the worthiest minds that were in the best ages.’ To us in particular who are living in one of the great epochs of history it is necessary to … Continue reading A Philosophy of Education Volume 6 Chapter 10 Section 2a