PLATO’S THEORY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. 263 
authority, whether in the family or the State. Military drill for 
every boy in the land would be an excellent means for imparting 
the sense of discipline. 
All tuition should be distinctly grounded on the broad basis of 
the principles of the Christian Faith which, as a people, we hold in 
common, for on this basis alone is it possible to build securely and 
with well-founded hope. All experience teaches that, and the 
wisdom of our wisest men tells us it is so. 
With such groundwork for the development of the moral and 
the mental faculties, it seems to me that the State would essentiaily 
fulfil its duty as regards Primary Education. 
We look further for provision for Secondary Education, as is 
already embodied in legislation and practice, whereby a broad and 
more liberal education is provided for the relatively few who in the 
Primary Schools have shown marked ability or zeal in their studies, 
together with opportunity for gaining scholarships or other rewards, 
and provision for such is rightly borne at the public expense. 
I think the State should make provision for the establishment of 
Continuation Schools for instruction in the evenings, making it 
obligatory that, at these schools, every boy, on leaving the Primary 
Schools, should Jearn a trade, that thus mind and body, through 
study of a handicraft, should be together exercised. (Hear, hear.) 
Such special education would prove of immense benefit in more 
directions than in the manifest economic one. 
Mr. Oxr.—Mr. Chairman, we have had a very interesting summary 
of Plato’s views on Education contained in those ten Books of the 
Republic of Plato which are such masterpieces in their way. It is 
very interesting to those who can read them in the original. I 
struggled through them a great many years ago, I am sorry to say 
now, and therefore I do not remember entirely what was contained 
in them, but if my memory serves me, the Guardians were to be 
hereditary, were they not? Ifa man was born a Guardian his son 
was a Guardian ? 
Rey. H. J. R. MArston.—Not if his son proved unworthy. If 
his son proved unworthy he was to be degraded to the class of 
cobblers over which Mr. Coxhead has made so merry. 
Mr. Oke.—It did not follow that gold was mixed up with the 
composition ? 
Rey. H. J. R. MArston.—It was not hereditary gold. 
