INFORMATIVE CONTENT OF EDUCATION 363 



suggested for the stages A and B has previously been covered ; the know- 

 ledge and capacity assumed for these ages as possibilities seem to me 

 absurd.' 



History. 



The other two indicated what sections are taken in History and Geography. 

 At Brentwood School, in History ' The Rise and Fall of Spanish and Dutch 

 Powers' come in for 11-14. The rest of the syllabus more in the Sixth 

 Forms ; parts of the 7-11 are given to 11-12 boys.' 



At Gadebridge Park the syllabus includes ' The Rise and Fall of Spanish 

 and Dutch Powers, Unification of Germany and Italy and the History of 

 War.' 



Geography. 



At Brentwood ' Most of this is covered,' while at Gadebridge Park the 

 parts of the suggested syllabus taken are : 



' World geography. Different types of population in the world. 

 Developed and undeveloped resources of the globe. Devastation of the 

 world's forests, dongas and. the like ; natural resources.' 



Social Mechanism. 



At the first-named school this ' comes in Lower Sixth ' ; no mention was 

 made of it in the reply from the second school except that the head master 

 thought that the following might be advantageously included in the 

 curriculum : ' Short history of communications and trade ' and ' A History 

 of Innovations — perhaps.' 



His colleague at Brentwood School observes in reply to the inquiry as 

 to what might be added : 



' Most of syllabus is taught in different parts of the school ; I should 

 like to include Physiology but at present " Reproduction " is the chief 

 part dealt with ; accidents we deal with only in the Ambulance section 

 of the cadet corps.' 



Sections Excluded. 



The replies to the question on parts that should be excluded were of 

 interest. In one case they included all given under Personal Sociology, 

 which, said the writer, ' should only be discussed with well-balanced 

 senior boys having other main interests in life ; a boy may easily lose his 

 mental balance.' This he gave as the reason for the exclusion of this 

 section of the curriculum, ' because,' he added, ' I have had personal experi- 

 ence of undergraduates breaking down mentally.' 



In the other case the correspondent would not include : 



' Geology of the World. Increasing importance of economic changes 

 in History, etc. The Role of Property in economic life. A short history 

 of general ideas. Coniparative Religion. Study of social types leading 

 to choice of role.' 



In explanation of this he stated : 



' The preparatory schools, owing to the immense importance and time 

 given to Classics and Mathematics and the ignoring by Public Schools 

 of Geography, are only able to devote some 2 hours a week to 

 " Geography " and Geology can well be left to the Public Schools. 

 Naturally some Geology is necessary to the understanding of even 

 elementary Geography. No Geographer is qualified to teach Geology ; 



