[English] CAPITALISM AND BOY SCOUTS.

CAPITALISM AND BOY SCOUTS.

MIXED DISCUSSION ON EDUCATION.

Cries of "Wrong, wrong, wrong!" greeted Mr. O. R. Coppock, general secretary of the National Federation of Building Trade Operatives, when, in a discussion on the education of the adolescent at the British Institute of Adult Education Conference at Balliol College, Oxford, he spoke of Boy Scouts' and Girl Guides' organisations as being "militarised," continually saluting the Union Jack, and being taught that there was nothing but "warfare, warfare," for our nation.

If there were to be peace in the world, he declared, they had to be taught universalism. It was the innate Conservatism of the employer, he alleged, that stood in the way of adult education. He wanted to see efficient workmen because the day was fast coming when the workers were going to "take over."

Sir Percy R. Jackson, Chairman of the Education Committee of the County Councils' Association, rebutted Mr. Coppock's condemnation of the capitalist in regard to the latter's attitude to education. For twenty-three years he had given the whole of his time to educational work, and had received the support of both capitalists and workers, but there were no better supporters, both in time and money, than his fellow manufacturers in the West Riding of Yorkshire in helping forward educational ideals. Our educational system was much better than many people thought.

"We don't want any revolution," he said "We have already got the best country in the world, the best people in the world, the most comforts of any people in the world, and though we have not the wealth of America, we have much that they have not got."

Source:

1. Page 16, "Hongkong Telegraph", Saturday, 7th November, 14th Year of the Republic of China

   • 21st Day, 9th Lunar Month, Yi-chou Year

   • Saturday, 7th November, 1925 Common Era