122 ORGANIC EVOLUTION 



completely failed of their purpose if they have not 

 convinced the reader that modern biology — i.e. the 

 theory of organic evolution and the facts clustered 

 around it — is a science whose teachings are of 

 immeasurable " practical utility " to the individual 

 and to society. Only on the basis provided by the 

 evolutionary psychology can a perfect system of 

 education conceivably be devised ; without this 

 basis no parent can build as well as with it. As 

 for the utility of our theory to society, much has 

 already been said in the last chapter. But the 

 advocates of eugenics, charm they, reason they, 

 never so wisely, will not succeed in achieving that 

 for which they strive until every citizen of even 

 mediocre intelligence is acquainted with the 

 principles of organic evolution. 



But here we encounter the possible objection. 

 Some will say that, even though these principles 

 be true, and intelligible to the young, and of im- 

 portance both educative and " practical," yet thev 

 need not be taught to children. When the boy 

 grows up he will come across all these things; and 

 that will be soon enough. Strong meat is not for 

 babes. 



In controversion of this opinion, I would first ask 

 its advocates what they do propose to teach. It 

 is palpably impossible to avoid teaching anything 

 about the origin of man. The choice, then, would 

 appear to rest between the teaching — to use 

 language at once accurate and comprehensible — 

 of lies or the teaching of the truth. Some reader 

 objects to this assertion as unmannerly or super- 

 ficial. He maintains that the statements of Genesis, 



