DECLINE IN THE BIRTH-RATE 187 



the children from the homes, the fields, and the work- 

 shops, prevented their receiving the home and industrial 

 training previously given, and probably unconsciously 

 relied on by the framers of the new code. The 

 growing reluctance to pay school pence, and the con- 

 sequent enactment of free education, seem to indicate 

 that the type of training given in the schools was not 

 found satisfactory by the parents ; while the general 

 loosening of parental control and responsibility has 

 done much to destroy all habits of discipline and 

 attachment to home among the children. 



Now the art of reading and writing one's own 

 language, an accomplishment which is useful in all 

 spheres of activity, is by no means proof of educa- 

 tion, or of any preparation for the practical duties 

 of life. It is true that a purely literary training, such 

 as the elementary schools have attempted to give, pre- 

 pares men who are in possession of it to enter upon 

 the heritage of thought, knowledge, and sentiment, 

 which men of all ages have bequeathed to mankind. 

 But if neither time nor inclination exists, or is likely to 

 exist, to follow or advance learning for its own sake, it 

 is of no use laboriously to acquire the means of doing 

 so, while sacrificing the satisfaction to be got out of 

 manual labour, craftsmanship, and a knowledge and 

 command over outdoor life and nature. It is probable 

 that the framers of the code did not realize the intense 

 pleasure to be obtained by the creation of anything, 

 by manual labour and craftsmanship no less than by 

 literature or art. This pleasure is much more within 

 reach of most people than is the creation of something 

 depending on a literary education or the philosophic 



