October 14, 1897] 



NATURE 



581 



your knowledge of any one of these latest discoveries and any 

 one of these processes is deficient, by that extent you are placed 

 at a disadvantage in the competition which you have to carry on 

 with the other nations of the earth. I am not going to say that 

 the theoretical knowledge of the principles of science is indis- 

 pensable to every manual worker, but I do not think that it can 

 be denied or doubted that the higher the average intelligence of 

 the manual worker, the more valuable are his labours. It is 

 also an undoubted fact that there are an increasing number of 

 positions, ranging from that of the chief manager of a manu- 

 facturing establishment which may employ thousands of hands, 

 to that of the foreman or superintendent of a subordinate branch 

 of such an establishment, to whom the knowledge of what I 

 have spoken is indispensable. It is also undoubted that that 

 supply of knowledge and intellectual ability cannot be found un- 

 less we give access to the attainment of such knowledge to the 

 most of the working classes. These are not altogether 

 theoretical speculations, but I think they are at the present 

 moment, at all events, matters of practical Interest. 



Foreign Competition due to Superior Technical 

 Instruction. 



Many of you will remember that last year, or the year before, 

 there was a great deal of discussion on the subject of the intense 

 competition to which some of our principal industries were ex- 

 posed. Although I believe that this scare was to a great 

 extent exaggerated, I do not think that any one will say it 

 was altogether without foundation, or that to-day the con- 

 dition of some of our industries does not require close 

 examination, probably some caution, and certainly consider- 

 able energy, in order to retain it in its present position. And 

 if this panic, exaggerated as it may have been, has led us 

 to anticipate and to ward off the blow, rather than to wait 

 until it has actually been received, I do not think that it can 

 have done anything but good. I think you ought to remember 

 that even those who have been the foremost in combating any- 

 thing in the nature of alarm or panic, have been forced to admit 

 that there are certain of our industries on which serious inroads 

 have been made by foreign competition. All, almost without 

 exception, agree that in cases where such successful inroads have 

 been made the cause is, in a great degree, due to the superior 

 excellence of the technical preparation of the workers of foreign 

 countries. I am quite aware that there are many other causes 

 which may, in the opinions of many, be supposed to hamper us 

 in the industrial race ; but most of those causes are subjects of 

 a controversial character, into which I do not think I have either 

 time or inclination to enter to-day. But whatever the opinion on 

 the subject of those causes may be, at any rate there can be no 

 reason why we should not address ourselves at once, and with 

 energy, to attempt to remove one cause at least which is 

 obvious, which is patent, which is not controversial, and in the 

 removal of which employers and workmen should seek to co- 

 operate without the slightest antagonism or opposition of 

 interests. 



Extension of Technical Education. 



It is very satisfactory to know that we have been doing of 

 late years a good deal to remove any inferiority under which we 

 may labour in respect of the technical training of our people. 

 If we compare the position of the technical instruction of the 

 present day with that which existed ten or even five years ago, 

 there is ample ground for congratulation. Many, I think I may 

 say most, of our counties and county boroughs have displayed 

 great energy in framing and carrying into effect large schemes 

 for the scientific education of the people. Public opinion was 

 never at any time so favourable to institutions adapted to pro- 

 vide for the local needs of the districts, even though those in- 

 stitutions might involve the community in considerable expense. 

 The nation realises, as it never has at any previous period, that 

 the welfare of its industry depends upon the training of its 

 workers, and, still more, upon the training of the directors of 

 its industries. It is understood that it is not enough to start a 

 scheme of technical education and to expect that it will go of 

 itself ; and the only means for preserving its continued efficiency 

 is an incessant watchfulness, and a readiness to adopt and seize 

 upon every improvement which the development of science or 

 of manufacture itself may suggest. A body of experienced 

 teachers, such as many counties now possess, aided, supported, 

 and encouraged by intelligent committees, is capable at the pre- 

 sent day of rendering enormous services not only to your own 

 community, but to the nation at large. We ought to remember 



that this work is only begun, that whatever progress we have 

 made we are far from having attained the perfection which has 

 been attained by some of our competitors ; and if I may recur 

 once more to the subject of competition, I may say that I be- 

 lieve that in the opinions of some of the most competent and 

 thoughtful observers much more alarm is felt on account of what 

 they know has been done on the subject of a scientific and an 

 artistic training of the population of other countries, and by 

 what they know of the inevitable results which will follow from 

 that completeness of training, than from any actual inroad 

 which has yet been made upon our industrial and commercial 

 supremacy. 



The Organisation of Secondary Education. 

 But there is, as I believe, an urgent necessity for action, 

 both swift and prudent. While much, I think most, depends 

 upon what may be done by local effort, I admit that something 

 yet remains to be done by the Government with the assistance 

 of Parliament. The progress which we have already made, 

 and the tentative struggle in which we have been engaged for 

 the last few years, have revealed the existence in our educa- 

 tional system of a considerable gap which requires to be filled. 

 All the experts agree, in order that the people should take full 

 advantage of the special scientific courses now provided for 

 them, that they must go to them better prepared than they are 

 now. Your own expert, Mr. Robson, the secretary of the county- 

 education centre, has called attention to that point. He says : — 

 "The lesson has been learned by the many which was only- 

 realised at that time (a few years ago) by the few — namely, that 

 before specialised technical instruction can be given in an ideal* 

 form we require not only a larger supply of competent in- 

 structors, but the students must have gone through a course 

 of secondary education not at present available. In other- 

 words, there must be an organised system of secondary edu- 

 cation provided beyond and above our most admirable ele- 

 mentary school course, instead of the present chaotic jumble- 

 existing between the elementary school and the University." 

 Accordingly, I am glad to see from the same report that the 

 county committee of education have devoted a considerable 

 amount of attention to the improvement of the secondary 

 schools in the county. But their powers should be extended, 

 and that was one object of the measure which was brought 

 before Parliament in the session before last. I hope that, at all 

 events, the part of the measure which referred to secondary 

 education will very speedily reappear ; and not only reappear, 

 but that some of the difficulties, some of the controverted ques- 

 tions connected with elementary education have been, for a 

 time, at all events, disposed of, and that it will reappear with 

 some of its revolutionary provisions extended. A reform o>f 

 secondary education, no doubt, will require great energy and 

 some self-sacrifice on the part of many. Probably also it may 

 require some expenditure of money. I do not see why it should* 

 require any large call upon either Imperial or local resources. 

 The large majority of secondary schools are now in private 

 hands, and I know no reason why they should not continue to- 

 remain so, provided the local authorities are able to secure 

 some guarantee of their efficiency. Secondary schools, such as- 

 they might be when reformed, would very soon furnish the tech- 

 nical classes, such as those you are establishing here, and in- 

 crease the number of students qualified, as they cannot be now, 

 to take advantage of those courses for their own benefit, 

 and for the benefit of the community in which they exist. I hope 

 that, although I have devoted my remarks almost exclusively 

 to one topic — the necessity for improving the scientific and com- 

 mercial education of our people — you do not imagine for a 

 moment that I feel indifferent to the higher aspect of education 

 which concerns the training and the character of the students. 

 That is the work, however, rather of the school and for the 

 schoolmaster, than of the science class or scientific teacher. Tho 

 two need not conflict together, nor exclude each other. I know 

 that the highest province of education is to raise the character o^ 

 the student, and to make him not only an accomplished work, 

 man, but a good citizen. Do not suppose for a moment thaJ 

 those who, like myself, are merely interested in the promotion 

 of technical education are indifferent to the higher side of tho 

 question ; but it is because of the urgent necessity which we feel 

 exists at the present moment to cultivate more than we havo 

 hitherto done the study of certain sciences and certain arts which 

 are ultimately connected with the industrial training and pros- 

 perity of the people, that I on this, as on other occasions, havQ 

 ventured to urge the subject most strongly upon you. 



NO. 1459, VOL. 56] 



