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very properly makes such a proceeding a crime； and punishes it as
such。 He does meddle with his neighbour's freedom； and that seriously。
So it might； perhaps； be a tenable doctrine； that it would be
needless； and even tyrannous； to make education compulsory in a sparse
agricultural population； living in abundance on the produce of its own
soil； but； in a densely populated manufacturing country； struggling
for existence with competitors； every ignorant person tends to ＇229＇
become a burden upon； and； so far； an infringer of the liberty of； his
fellows； and an obstacle to their success。 Under such circumstances an
education rate is； in fact； a war tax； levied for purposes of defence。
That State action always has been more or less misdirected； and always
will be so； is； I believe； perfectly true。 But I am not aware that it
is more true of the action of men in their corporate capacity than it
is of the doings of individuals。 The wisest and most dispassionate man
in existence； merely wishing to go from one stile in a field to the
opposite； will not walk quite straighthe is always going a little
wrong； and always correcting himself； and I can only congratulate the
individualist who is able to say that his general course of life has
been of a less undulatory character。 To abolish State action； because
its direction is never more than approximately correct； appears to me
to be much the same thing as abolishing the man at the wheel
altogether； because； do what he will； the ship yaws more or less。 〃Why
should I be robbed of my property to pay for teaching another man's
children？〃 is an individualist question； which is not unfrequently put
as if it settled the whole business。 Perhaps it does； but I find
difficulties in seeing why it should。 The parish in which I live makes
me pay my share for the paving and lighting of a great many streets
that I never pass through； ＇230＇ and I might plead that I am robbed to
smooth the way and lighten the darkness of other people。 But I am
afraid the parochial authorities would not let me off on this plea；
and I must confess I do not see why they should。
I cannot speak of my own knowledge； but I have every reason to believe
that I came into this world a small reddish person； certainly without
a gold spoon in my mouth； and in fact with no discernible abstract or
concrete 〃rights〃 or property of any description。 If a foot was not
set upon me； at once； as a squalling nuisance； it was either the
natural affection of those about me； which I certainly had done
nothing to deserve； or the fear of the law which； ages before my
birth； was painfully built up by the society into which I intruded；
that prevented that catastrophe。 If I was nourished； cared for；
taught； saved from the vagabondage of a wastrel； I certainly am not
aware that I did anything to deserve those advantages。 And； if I
possess anything now； it strikes me that； though I may have fairly
earned my day's wages for my day's work； and may justly call them my
propertyyet； without that organization of society； created out of
the toil and blood of long generations before my time； I should
probably have had nothing but a flint axe and an indifferent hut to
call my own； and even those would be mine only so long as no stronger
savage came my way。
So that if society； having； quite gratuitously； ＇231＇ done all these
things for me； asks me in turn to do something towards its
preservationeven if that something is to contribute to the teaching
of other men's childrenI really in spite of all my individualist
leanings； feel rather ashamed to say no。 And if I were not ashamed； I
cannot say that I think that society would be dealing unjustly with me
in converting the moral obligation into a legal one。 There is a
manifest unfairness in letting all the burden be borne by the willing
horse。
It does not appear to me； then； that there is any valid objection to
taxation for purposes of education； but； in the case of technical
schools and classes； I think it is practically expedient that such a
taxation should be local。 Our industrial population accumulates in
particular towns and districts； these districts are those which
immediately profit by technical education； and it is only in them that
we can find the men practically engaged in industries； among whom some
may reasonably be expected to be competent judges of that which is
wanted； and of the best means of meeting the want。
In my belief； all methods of technical training are at present
tentative； and； to be successful； each must be adapted to the special
peculiarities of its locality。 This is a case in which we want twenty
years； not of 〃strong government；〃 but of cheerful and hopeful
blundering； and we may be ＇232＇ thankful if we get things straight in
that time。
The principle of the Bill introduced； but dropped； by the Government
last session； appears to me to be wise； and some of the objections to
it I think are due to a misunderstanding。 The bill proposed in
substance to allow localities to tax themselves for purposes of
technical educationon the condition that any scheme for such purpose
should be submitted to the Science and Art Department； and declared by
that department to be in accordance with the intention of the
Legislature。
A cry was raised that the Bill proposed to throw technical education
into the hands of the Science and Art Department。 But； in reality； no
power of initiation； nor even of meddling with details； was given to
that Departmentthe sole function of which was to decide whether any
plan proposed did or did not come within the limits of 〃technical
education。〃 The necessity for such control； somewhere； is obvious。 No
legislature； certainly not ours； is likely to grant the power of
self…taxation without setting limits to that power in some way； and it
would neither have been practicable to devise a legal definition of
technical education； nor commendable to leave the question to the
Auditor…General； to be fought out in the law…courts。 The only
alternative was to leave the decision to an appropriate State
authority。 If it is ＇233＇ asked what is the need of such control if
the people of the localities are the best judges； the obvious reply is
that there are localities and localities； and that while Manchester；
or Liverpool； or Birmingham； or Glasgow might； perhaps； be safely left
to do as they thought fit； smaller towns； in which there is less
certainty of full discussion by competent people of different ways of
thinking； might easily fall a prey to crocheteers。
Supposing our intermediate science teaching and our technical schools
and classes are established； there is yet a third need to be supplied；
and that is the want of good teachers。 And it is necessary not only to
get them； but to keep them when you have got them。
It is impossible to insist too strongly upon the fact that the
efficient teachers of science and of technology are not to be made by
the processes in vogue at ordinary training colleges。 The memory
loaded with mere bookwork is not the thing wantedis； in fact； rather
worse than uselessin the teacher of scientific subjects。 It is
absolutely essential that his mind should be full of knowledge and not
of mere learning； and that what he knows should have been learned in
the laboratory rather than in the library。 There are happily already；
both in London and in the provinces； various places in which such
training is to be had； and the main thing at present is to make it in
the first place accessible； and in the next ＇234＇ indispensable； to
those who undertake the business of teaching。 But when the well…trained
men are supplied； it must be recollected that the profession of
teacher is not a very lucrative or otherwise tempting one； and that it
may be advisable to offer special inducements to good men to remain in
it。 These； however； are questions of detail into which it is
unnecessary to enter further。
Last； but not least； comes the question of providing the machinery for
enabling those who are by nature specially qualified to undertake the
higher branches of industrial work； to reach the position in which
they may render that service to the community。 If all our educational
expenditure did nothing but pick one man of scientific or inventive
genius； each year； from amidst the hewers of wood and drawers of
water； and give him the chance of making the best of his inborn
faculties； it would be a very good investment。 If there is one such
child among the hundreds of thousands of our annual increase； it would
be worth any money to drag him either from the slough of misery； or
from the hotbed of wealth； and teach him to devote himself to the
service of his people。 Here； again； we have made a beginning with our
scholarships and the like； and need only follow in the tracks already
worn。
The programme of industrial development briefly set forth in the
preceding pages is not what Kant calls a 〃Hirngespinnst；〃 a cobweb
＇235＇ spun in the brain of a Utopian philosopher。 More or less of it
has taken bodily shape in many parts of the country； and there are
towns of no great size or wealth in the manufacturing districts
（Keighley； for example） in which almo