Cambridge Essays on Education

Cambridge Essays on Education

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Various, Edited by Arthur Christopher Benson
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Title: Cambridge Essays on Education
Author: Various
Release Date: September 28, 2004 [eBook #13548]
Language: English
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CAMBRIDGE ESSAYS ON EDUCATION***
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CAMBRIDGE ESSAYS ON EDUCATION
EDITED BY A.C. BENSON, C.V.O., LL.D. Master of Magdalene
College
With an Introduction by the Right Hon. Viscount Bryce, O.M.
1919

PREFACE
The scheme of publishing a volume of essays dealing with underlying
aims and principles of education was originated by the University Press
Syndicate. It seemed to promise something both of use and interest, and
the further arrangements were entrusted to a small Committee, with
myself as secretary and acting editor.
Our idea has been this: at a time of much educational enterprise and

unrest, we believed that it would be advisable to collect the opinions of
a few experienced teachers and administrators upon certain questions of
the theory and motive of education which lie a little beneath the
surface.
To deal with current and practical problems does not seem the first
need at present. Just now, work is both common as well as fashionable;
most people are doing their best; and, if anything, the danger is that
organisation should outrun foresight and intelligence. Moreover a
weakening of the old compulsion of the classics has resulted, not in
perfect freedom, but in a tendency on the part of some scientific
enthusiasts simply to substitute compulsory science for compulsory
literature, when the real question rather is whether obligatory subjects
should not be diminished as far as possible, and more sympathetic
attention given to faculty and aptitude.
We have attempted to avoid mere current controversial topics, and to
encourage our contributors to define as far as possible the aim and
outlook of education, as the word is now interpreted.
We have not furthered any educational conspiracy, nor attempted any
fusion of view. Our plan has been first to select some of the most
pressing of modern problems, next to find well-equipped experts and
students to deal with each, and then to give the various writers as free a
hand as possible, desiring them to speak with the utmost frankness and
personal candour. We have not directed the plan or treatment or scope
of any essay; and my own editorial supervision has consisted merely in
making detailed suggestions on smaller points, in exhorting
contributors to be punctual and diligent, and generally revising what
the New Testament calls jots and tittles. We have been very fortunate in
meeting with but few refusals, and our contributors readily responded
to the wish which we expressed, that they should write from the
personal rather than from the judicial point of view, and follow their
own chosen method of treatment.
We take the opportunity of expressing our obligations to all who have
helped us, and to Viscount Bryce for bestowing, as few are so justly
entitled to do, an educational benediction upon our scheme and volume.
A.C. BENSON
MAGDALENE COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE August 18, 1917

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
By the Right Hon. VISCOUNT BRYCE, O.M.
I. THE AIM OF EDUCATIONAL REFORM
By JOHN LEWIS PATON, M.A., High Master of Manchester
Grammar School; formerly Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge,
Assistant Master at Rugby School, Head Master of University College
School
II. THE TRAINING OF THE REASON
By the Very Rev. WILLIAM RALPH INGE, D.D., Dean of St Paul's,
Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, and of Hertford College,
Oxford; formerly Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity, Fellow of
King's College, Cambridge, Assistant Master at Eton College, Fellow
and Tutor of Hertford College, Oxford
III. THE TRAINING OF THE IMAGINATION
By ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER BENSON, C.V.O., LL.D., Master of
Magdalene College, Cambridge; formerly Assistant Master at Eton
College
IV. RELIGION AT SCHOOL
By WILLIAM WYAMAR VAUGHAN, M.A., Master of Wellington
College; formerly Assistant Master at Clifton College, and Head
Master of Giggleswick School
V. CITIZENSHIP
By ALBERT MANSBRIDGE, M.A., Joint-Secretary of the Cambridge
University Tutorial Classes Committee; Founder and formerly
Secretary of the Workers' Educational Association
VI. THE PLACE OF LITERATURE IN EDUCATION
By NOWELL SMITH, M.A., Head Master of Sherborne School;
formerly Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, Fellow and Tutor of
New College, Oxford, Assistant Master at Winchester College
VII. THE PLACE OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION
By WILLIAM BATESON, F.R.S., Director of the John Innes
Horticultural Institution, Honorary Fellow of St John's College,
Cambridge; formerly Professor of