TheInfiniteSchoolTaskThequestionofchildren\'swork，however，isonlyaquestionofwhatthechildoughttodoforthecommunity。Howhighlyitshouldqualifyitselfisanothermatter。Butmostofthedifficultyofinducingchildrentolearnwoulddisappearifourdemandsbecamenotonlydefinitebutfinite。Whenlearningisonlyanexcuseforimprisonment，itisaninstrumentoftorturewhichbecomesmorepainfulthemoreprogressismade。ThuswhenyouhaveforcedachildtolearntheChurchCatechism，adocumentprofoundbeyondthecomprehensionofmostadults，youaresometimesatastandstillforsomethingelsetoteach；andyouthereforekeepthewretchedchildrepeatingitscatechismagainandagainuntilyouhitontheplanofmakingitlearninstalmentsofBibleverses，preferablyfromthebookofNumbers。Butasitislesstroubletosetalessonthatyouknowyourself，thereisatendencytokeeprepeatingthealreadylearntlessonratherthanbreaknewground。AtschoolIbeganwithafairlycompleteknowledgeofLatingrammarinthechildishsenseofbeingabletorepeatalltheparadigms；andIwaskeptatthis，orratherkeptinaclasswherethemasterneveraskedmetodo
itbecauseheknewIcould，andthereforedevotedhimselftotrappingtheboyswhocouldnot，untilIfinallyforgotmostofit。Butwhenprogresstookplace，whatdiditmean?FirstitmeantCaesar，withtheforeknowledgethattomasterCaesarmeantonlybeingsetatVirgil，withtheculminatinghorrorofGreekandHomerinreserveattheendofthat。IpreferredCaesar，becausehisstatementthatGaulisdividedintothreeparts，thoughneitherinterestingnortrue，wastheonlyLatinsentenceIcouldtranslateatsight:thereforethelongerwestuckatCaesarthebetterIwaspleased。Justsodolessclassicallyeducatedchildrenseenothinginthemasteryofadditionbutthebeginningofsubtraction，andsoonthroughmultiplicationanddivisionandfractions，withtheblackcloudofalgebraonthehorizon。Andifaboyrushesthroughallthat，thereisalwaysthecalculustofallbackon，unlessindeedyouinsistonhislearningmusic，andproceedtohithimifhecannottellyoutheyearBeethovenwasborn。
Achildhasarighttofinalityasregardsitscompulsorylessons。
Alsoasregardsphysicaltraining。AtpresentitisassumedthattheschoolmasterhasarighttoforceeverychildintoanattempttobecomePorsonandBentley，LeibnitzandNewton，allrolledintoone。
Thisisthetraditionoftheoldestgrammarschools。Inourtimesanevenmorehorribleandcynicalclaimhasbeenmadefortherighttodriveboysthroughcompulsorygamesintheplayingfieldsuntiltheyaretoomuchexhaustedphysicallytodoanythingbutdropofftosleep。Thisissupposedtoprotectthemfromvice；butasitalsoprotectsthemfrompoetry，literature，music，meditationandprayer，itmaybedismissedwiththeobviousremarkthatifboardingschoolsareplaceswhosekeepersaredriventosuchmonstrousmeasureslestmoreabominablethingsshouldhappen，thenthesoonerboardingschoolsareviolentlyabolishedthebetter。Itistruethatsocietymaymakephysicalclaimsonthechildaswellasmentalones:thechildmustlearntowalk，touseaknifeandfork，toswim，torideabicycle，toacquiresufficientpowerofself-defencetomakeanattackonitanarduousanduncertainenterprise，perhapstofly。Whatasamatterofcommon-senseitclearlyhasnotarighttodoistomakethisanexcuseforkeepingthechildslavingfortenhoursatphysicalexercisesonthegroundthatitisnotyetasdexterousasCinquevalliandasstrongasSandow。
TheRewardsandRisksofKnowledgeInaword，wehavenorighttoinsistoneducatingachild；foritseducationcanendonlywithitslifeandwillnoteventhenbecomplete。Compulsorycompletionofeducationisthelastfollyofarottenanddesperatecivilization。Itistherattleinitsthroatbeforedissolution。Allwecanfairlydoistoprescribecertaindefiniteacquirementsandaccomplishmentsasqualificationsforcertainemployments；andtosecurethem，notbytheridiculousmethodofinflictinginjuriesonthepersonswhohavenotyetmasteredthem，butbyattachingcertainprivileges(notpecuniary)totheemployments。
Mostacquirementscarrytheirownprivilegeswiththem。Thusababyhastobeprettycloselyguardedandimprisonedbecauseitcannottakecareofitself。Ithaseventobecarriedabout(themostcompleteconceivableinfringementofitsliberty)untilitcanwalk。Butnobodygoesoncarryingchildrenaftertheycanwalklesttheyshouldwalkintomischief，thoughArabboysmaketheirsisterscarrythem，asourownspoiledchildrensometimesmaketheirnurses，outofmerelaziness，becausesistersintheEastandnursesintheWestarekeptinservitude。Butinasocietyofequals(theonlyreasonableandpermanentlypossiblesortofsociety)childrenareinmuchgreaterdangerofacquiringbandylegsthroughbeinglefttowalkbeforetheyarestrongenoughthanofbeingcarriedwhentheyarewellabletowalk。Anyhow，freedomofmovementinanurseryistherewardoflearningtowalk；andinpreciselythesamewayfreedomofmovementinacityistherewardoflearninghowtoreadpublicnotices，andtocountandusemoney。Theconsequencesareofcoursemuchlargerthanthe
mereabilitytoreadthenameofastreetorthenumberofarailwayplatformandthedestinationofatrain。Whenyouenableachildtoreadthese，youalsoenableittoreadthispreface，totheutterdestruction，youmayquitepossiblythink，ofitsmoralsanddocility。Youalsoexposeittothedangerofbeingrunoverbytaxicabsandtrains。Themoralandphysicalrisksofeducationareenormous:everynewpowerachildacquires，fromspeaking，walking，andco-ordinatingitsvision，toconqueringcontinentsandfoundingreligions，opensupimmensenewpossibilitiesofmischief。Teachachildtowriteandyouteachithowtoforge:teachittospeakandyouteachithowtolie:teachittowalkandyouteachithowtokickitsmothertodeath。
Thegreatproblemofslaveryforthosewhoseaimistomaintainitistheproblemofreconcilingtheefficiencyoftheslavewiththehelplessnessthatkeepshiminservitude；andthisproblemisfortunatelynotcompletelysoluble；foritisnotinfactfoundpossibleforaduketotreathissolicitororhisdoctorashetreatshislaborers，thoughtheyareallequallyhisslaves:thelaborerbeinginfactlessdependentonhisfavorthantheprofessionalman。
Henceitisthatmencometoresent，ofallthings，protection，becauseitsooftenmeansrestrictionoftheirlibertylesttheyshouldmakeabaduseofit。Iftherearedangerousprecipicesabout，itismucheasierandcheapertoforbidpeopletowalkneartheedgethantoputupaneffectivefence:thatiswhybothlegislatorsandparentsandthepaiddeputiesofparentsarealwaysinhibitingandprohibitingandpunishingandscoldingandlamingandcrampinganddelayingprogressandgrowthinsteadofmakingthedangerousplacesassafeaspossibleandthenboldlytakingandallowingotherstotaketheirreducibleminimumofrisk。
EnglishPhysicalHardihoodandSpiritualCowardiceItiseasiertoconvertmostpeopletotheneedforallowingtheirchildrentorunphysicalrisksthanmoralones。Icanrememberarelativeofminewho，whenIwasasmallchild，unusedtohorsesandverymuchafraidofthem，insistedonputtingmeonaratherrumbustiousponywithlittlespursonmyheels(knowingthatinmyagitationIwouldusethemunconsciously)，andbeingenormouslyamusedatmyterrors。YetwhenthatsameladydiscoveredthatIhadfoundacopyofTheArabianNightsandwasdevouringitwithavidity，shewashorrified，andhiditawayfrommelestitshouldbreakmysoulastheponymighthavebrokenmyneck。Thiswayofproducinghardybodiesandtimidsoulsissocommonincountryhousesthatyoumayspendhoursinthemlisteningtostoriesofbrokencollarbones，brokenbacks，andbrokenneckswithoutcominguponasinglespiritualadventureordaringthought。
Butwhethertheriskstowhichlibertyexposesusaremoralorphysicalourrighttolibertyinvolvestherighttorunthem。Amanwhoisnotfreetoriskhisneckasanaviatororhissoulasahereticisnotfreeatall；andtherighttolibertybegins，notattheageof21yearsbutof21seconds。
TheRisksofIgnoranceandWeaknessThedifficultywithchildrenisthattheyneedprotectionfromriskstheyaretooyoungtounderstand，andattackstheycanneitheravoidnorresist。Youmayonacademicgroundsallowachildtosnatchglowingcoalsfromthefireonce。Youwillnotdoittwice。Therisksoflibertywemustleteveryonetake；buttherisksofignoranceandself-helplessnessareanothermatter。Notonlychildrenbutadultsneedprotectionfromthem。Atpresentadultsareoftenexposedtorisksoutsidetheirknowledgeorbeyondtheircomprehensionorpowersofresistanceorforesight:forexample，wehavetolookoneverydayatmarriagesorfinancialspeculationsthatmayinvolvefarworseconsequencesthanburntfingers。Andjustasitispartofthebusinessofadultstoprotectchildren，tofeedthem，clothethem，shelterthem，andshiftfortheminallsortsofwaysuntiltheyareabletoshiftforthemselves，itiscomingmoreandmoretobeseenthatthisistruenotonlyoftherelationbetweenadultsandchildren，butbetweenadultsandadults。Weshallnotalwayslookonindifferentlyatfoolishmarriagesandfinancialspeculations，norallowdeadmentocontrollivecommunities
byridiculouswillsandlivingheirstosquanderandruingreatestates，nortolerateahundredotherabsurdlibertiesthatweallowtodaybecausewearetoolazytofindouttheproperwaytointerfere。Buttheinterferencemustberegulatedbysometheoryoftheindividual\'srights。Thoughtherighttoliveisabsolute，itisnotunconditional。Ifamanisunbearablymischievous，hemustbekilled。Thisisamerematterofnecessity，likethekillingofaman-eatingtigerinanursery，avenomoussnakeinthegarden，orafoxinthepoultryyard。Nosocietycouldbeconstructedontheassumptionthatsuchexterminationisaviolationofthecreature\'srighttolive，andthereforemustnotbeallowed。Andthenatoncearisesthedangerintowhichmoralityhasledus:thedangerofpersecution。OneChristianspreadinghisdoctrinesmayseemmoremischievousthanadozenthieves:throwhimthereforetothelions。AlyingordisobedientchildmaycorruptawholegenerationandmakehumanSocietyimpossible:thereforethrashtheviceoutofhim。Andsoonuntilourwholesystemofabortion，intimidation，tyranny，crueltyandtherestisinfullswingagain。
TheCommonSenseofTolerationTherealsafeguardagainstthisisthedogmaofToleration。IneednothererepeatthecompacttreatiseonitwhichIpreparedfortheJointCommitteeontheCensorshipofStagePlays，andprefixedtoTheShewingUpofBlancoPosnet。Itmustsufficenowtosaythatthepresentmustnotattempttoschoolmasterthefuturebypretendingtoknowgoodfromevilintendency，orprotectcitizensagainstshockstotheiropinionsandconvictions，moral，politicalorreligious:inotherwordsitmustnotpersecutedoctrinesofanykind，orwhatiscalledbadtaste，andmustinsistonallpersonsfacingsuchshocksastheyfacefrostyweatheroranyoftheotherdisagreeable，dangerous，orbracingincidentsoffreedom。TheexpediencyofTolerationhasbeenforcedonusbythefactthatprogressiveenlightenmentdependsonafairhearingfordoctrineswhichatfirstappearseditious，blasphemous，andimmoral，andwhichdeeplyshockpeoplewhoneverthinkoriginally，thoughtbeingwiththemmerelyahabitandanecho。
ThedeepergroundforTolerationisthenatureofcreation，which，aswenowknow，proceedsbyevolution。Evolutionfindsitswaybyexperiment；andthisfindingofthewayvariesaccordingtothestageofdevelopmentreached，fromtheblindestgropingalongthelineofleastresistancetointellectualspeculation，withitspracticalsequelofhypothesisandexperimentalverification；ortoobservation，induction，anddeduction；orevenintosorapidandintuitiveanintegrationofalltheseprocessesinasinglebrainthatwegettheinspiredguessofthemanofgeniusandthedesperateresolutionoftheteacherofnewtruthswhoisfirstslainasablasphemousapostateandthenworshippedasaprophet。
Herethelawforthechildisthesameasfortheadult。Thehighpriestmustnotrendhisgarmentsandcry\"Crucifyhim\"whenheisshocked:theatheistmustnotclamorforthesuppressionofLaw\'sSeriousCallbecauseithasfortwocenturiesdestroyedthenaturalhappinessofinnumerableunfortunatechildrenbypersuadingtheirparentsthatitistheirreligiousdutytobemiserable。It，andtheSermonontheMount，andMachiavelli\'sPrince，andLaRochefoucauld\'smaxims，andHymnsAncientandModern，andDeGlanville\'sapologue，andDr。Watts\'srhymes，andNietzsche\'sGayScience，andIngersoll\'sMistakesofMoses，andthespeechesandpamphletsofthepeoplewhowantustomakewaronGermany，andtheNoodle\'sOrationsandarticlesofourpoliticiansandjournalists，mustallbetoleratednotonlybecauseanyofthemmayforallweknowbeontherighttrackbutbecauseitisintheconflictofopinionthatwewinknowledgeandwisdom。Howeverterriblethewoundssufferedinthatconflict，theyarebetterthanthebarrenpeaceofdeaththatfollowswhenallthecombatantsareslaughteredorboundhandandfoot。
ThedifficultyatpresentisthatthoughthisnecessityforTolerationisalawofpoliticalscienceaswellestablishedasthelawofgravitation，ourrulersarenevertaughtpoliticalscience:onthecontrary，theyaretaughtinschoolthatthemastertoleratesnothingthatisdisagreeabletohim；thatrulingissimplybeingmaster；andthatthemaster\'smethodisthemethodofviolentpunishment。Andourcitizens，allschooltaught，arewalkinginthesamedarkness。AsI
writetheselinestheHomeSecretaryisexplainingthatamanwhohasbeenimprisonedforblasphemymustnotbereleasedbecausehisremarkswerepainfultothefeelingsofhispiousfellowtownsmen。NowithappensthatthisveryHomeSecretaryhasdrivenmanythousandsofhisfellowcitizensalmostbesidethemselvesbythecrudityofhisnotionsofgovernment，andhissimpleinabilitytounderstandwhyheshouldnotuseandmakelawstotormentandsubduepeoplewhodonothappentoagreewithhim。Inaword，heisnotapolitician，butagrown-upschoolboywhohasatlastgotacaneinhishand。Andasalltherestofusareinthesamecondition(exceptastocommandofthecane)theonlyobjectionmadetohisproceedingstakestheshapeofclamorousdemandsthat_he_shouldbecanedinsteadofbeingallowedtocaneotherpeople。
TheSinofAthanasiusItseemshopeless。Anarchistsaretemptedtopreachaviolentandimplacableresistancetoalllawastheonlyremedy；andtheresultofthatspeedilyisthatpeoplewelcomeanytyrannythatwillrescuethemfromchaos。Butthereisreallynoneedtochoosebetweenanarchyandtyranny。Aquitereasonablestateofthingsispracticableifweproceedonhumanassumptionsandnotonacademicones。IfadultswillfranklygiveuptheirclaimtoknowbetterthanchildrenwhatthepurposesoftheLifeForceare，andtreatthechildasanexperimentlikethemselves，andpossiblyamoresuccessfulone，andatthesametimerelinquishtheirmonstrousparentalclaimstopersonalprivatepropertyinchildren，therestmustbelefttocommonsense。Itisourattitude，ourreligion，thatiswrong。AgoodbeginningmightbemadebyenactingthatanypersondictatingapieceofconducttoachildortoanyoneelseasthewillofGod，orasabsolutelyright，shouldbedealtwithasablasphemer:as，indeed，guiltyoftheunpardonablesinagainsttheHolyGhost。Ifthepenaltyweredeath，itwouldridusatonceofthatscourgeofhumanity，theamateurPope。
AsanIrishProtestant，IraisethecryofNoPoperywithhereditaryzest。WeareoverrunwithPopes。Fromcuratesandgovernesses，whomayclaimasortofprofessionalstanding，toparentsandunclesandnurserymaidsandschoolteachersandwiseacresgenerally，therearescoresofthousandsofhumaninsectsgropingthroughourdarknessbythefeeblephosphorescenceoftheirowntails，yetreadyatamoment\'snoticetorevealthewillofGodoneverypossiblesubject；toexplainhowandwhytheuniversewasmade(inmyyouththeyaddedtheexactdate)andthecircumstancesunderwhichitwillceasetoexist；tolaydownpreciserulesofrightandwrongconduct；todiscriminateinfalliblybetweenvirtuousandviciouscharacter；andallthiswithsuchcertaintythattheyarepreparedtovisitalltherigorsofthelaw，andalltheruinouspenaltiesofsocialostracismonpeople，howeverharmlesstheiractionsmaybewhoventuretolaughattheirmonstrousconceitortopaytheirassumptionstheextravagantcomplimentofcriticizingthem。Astochildren，whoshallsaywhatcaningsandbirchingsandterrifyingsandthreatsofhellfireandimpositionsandhumiliationsandpettyimprisoningsandsendingstobedandstandingincornersandtheliketheyhavesufferedbecausetheirparentsandguardiansandteacherskneweverythingsomuchbetterthanSocratesorSolon?
Itisthisignorantuppishnessthatdoesthemischief。Astrangerontheplanetmightexpectthatitsgrotesqueabsurditywouldprovokeenoughridiculetocureit；butunfortunatelyquitethecontraryhappens。Justasourillhealthdeliversusintothehandsofmedicalquacksandcreatesapassionatedemandforimpudentpretencesthatdoctorscancurethediseasestheythemselvesdieofdaily，soourignoranceandhelplessnesssetusclamoringforspiritualandmoralquackswhopretendthattheycansaveoursoulsfromtheirowndamnation。Ifadoctorweretosaytohispatients，\"Iamfamiliarwithyoursymptoms，becauseIhaveseenotherpeopleinyourcondition；andIwillbringtheverylittleknowledgewehavetoyourtreatment；butexceptinthatveryshallowsenseIdontknowwhatisthematterwithyou；andIcantundertaketocureyou，\"hewouldbealostmanprofessionally；andifaclergyman，onbeingcalledontoawardaprizeforgoodconductinthevillageschool，weretosay，\"I
amafraidIcannotsaywhoisthebest-behavedchild，becauseIreallydonotknowwhatgoodconductis；butIwillgladlytaketheteacher\'swordastowhichchildhascausedleastinconvenience，\"hewouldprobablybeunfrocked，ifnotexcommunicated。Andyetnohonestandintellectuallycapabledoctororparsoncansaymore。Clearlyitwouldnotbewiseofthedoctortosayit，becauseoptimisticlieshavesuchimmensetherapeuticvaluethatadoctorwhocannottellthemconvincinglyhasmistakenhisprofession。Andaclergymanwhoisnotpreparedtolaydownthelawdogmaticallywillnotbeofmuchuseinavillageschool，thoughitbehoveshimallthemoretobeverycarefulwhatlaw
helaysdown。Butunlessboththeclergymanandthedoctorareintheattitudeexpressedbythesespeechestheyarenotfitfortheirwork。Themanwhobelievesthathehasmorethanaprovisionalhypothesistogouponisabornfool。Hemayhavetoactvigorouslyonit。TheworldhasnousefortheAgnosticwhowontbelieveanythingbecauseanythingmightbefalse，andwontdenyanythingbecauseanythingmightbetrue。Butthereisawidedifferencebetweensaying，\"Ibelievethis；andIamgoingtoactonit，\"or，\"I
dontbelieveit；andIwontactonit，\"andsaying，\"Itistrue；anditismydutyandyourstoactonit，\"or，\"Itisfalse；anditismydutyandyourstorefusetoactonit。\"ThedifferenceisasgreatasthatbetweentheApostles\'CreedandtheAthanasianCreed。WhenyourepeattheApostles\'Creedyouaffirmthatyoubelievecertainthings。
Thereyouareclearlywithinyourrights。WhenyourepeattheAthanasianCreed，youaffirmthatcertainthingsareso，andthatanybodywhodoubtsthattheyaresocannotbesaved。Andthisissimplyapieceofimpudenceonyourpart，asyouknownothingaboutitexceptthatasgoodmenasyouhaveneverheardofyourcreed。Theapostolicattitudeisadesiretoconvertotherstoourbeliefsforthesakeofsympathyandlight:theAthanasianattitudeisadesiretomurderpeoplewhodontagreewithus。IamsufficientofanAthanasiantoadvocatealawforthespeedyexecutionofallAthanasians，becausetheyviolatethefundamentalpropositionofmycreed，whichis，Irepeat，thatalllivingcreaturesareexperiments。
ThepreciseformulafortheSuperman，_ci-devant_TheJustManMadePerfect，hasnotyetbeendiscovered。Untilitis，everybirthisanexperimentintheGreatResearchwhichisbeingconductedbytheLifeForcetodiscoverthatformula。
TheExperimentExperimentingAndnowallthemodernschoolmasterabortionistswillriseupbeaming，andsay，\"Wequiteagree。Weregardeverychildinourschoolasasubjectforexperiment。Wearealwaysexperimentingwiththem。Wechallengetheexperimentaltestforoursystem。Wearecontinuallyguidedbyourexperienceinourgreatworkofmouldingthecharacterofourfuturecitizens，etc。etc。etc。\"Iamsorrytoseemirreconcilable；butitistheLifeForcethathastomaketheexperimentandnottheschoolmaster；andtheLifeForceforthechild\'spurposeisinthechildandnotintheschoolmaster。Theschoolmasterisanotherexperiment；andalaboratoryinwhichalltheexperimentsbeganexperimentingononeanotherwouldnotproduceintelligibleresults。Iadmit，however，thatifmyschoolmastershadtreatedmeasanexperimentoftheLifeForce:thatis，iftheyhadsetmefreetodoasIlikedsubjectonlytomypoliticalrightsandtheirs，theycouldnothavewatchedtheexperimentverylong，becausethefirstresultwouldhavebeenarapidmovementonmypartinthedirectionofthedoor，andmydisappearancethere-through。
ItmaybeworthinquiringwhereIshouldhavegoneto。IshouldsaythatpracticallyeverytimeIshouldhavegonetoamuchmoreeducationalplace。Ishouldhavegoneintothecountry，orintothesea，orintotheNationalGallery，ortohearabandiftherewasone，ortoanylibrarywheretherewerenoschoolbooks。Ishouldhavereadverydryanddifficultbooks:forexample，thoughnothingwouldhaveinducedmetoreadthebudgetofstupidpartyliesthatservedasatext-bookofhistoryinschool，IrememberreadingRobertson\'sCharlesV。andhishistoryofScotlandfromendtoendmostlaboriously。
Once，stungbytheairsofaschoolfellowwhoallegedthathehadreadLockeOnTheHumanUnderstanding，IattemptedtoreadtheBiblestraightthrough，andactuallygottothePaulineEpistlesbeforeI
brokedownindisgustatwhatseemedtometheirinveteratecrookednessofmind。Iftherehadbeenaschoolwherechildrenwerereallyfree，Ishouldhavehadtobedrivenoutofitforthesakeofmyhealthbytheteachers；forthechildrentowhomaliteraryeducationcanbeofanyuseareinsatiable:theywillreadandstudyfarmorethanisgoodforthem。Infacttherealdifficultyistopreventthemfromwastingtheirtimebyreadingforthesakeofreadingandstudyingforthesakeofstudying，insteadoftakingsometroubletofindoutwhattheyreallylikeandarecapableofdoingsomegoodat。Somesillypersonwillprobablyinterruptmeherewiththeremarkthatmanychildrenhavenoappetiteforaliteraryeducationatall，andwouldneveropenabookiftheywerenotforcedto。IhaveknownmanysuchpersonswhohavebeenforcedtothepointofobtainingUniversitydegrees。Andforalltheeffecttheirliteraryexerciseshasleftonthemtheymightjustaswellhavebeenputonthetreadmill。Infacttheyareactuallylessliteratethanthetreadmillwouldhaveleftthem；fortheymightbychancehavepickedupanddippedintoavolumeofShakespearoratranslationofHomeriftheyhadnotbeendriventoloatheeveryfamousnameinliterature。IshouldprobablyknowasmuchLatinasFrench，ifLatinhadnotbeenmadetheexcuseformyschoolimprisonmentanddegradation。
WhyWeLoatheLearningandLoveSportIfwearetodiscusstheimportanceofart，learning，andintellectualculture，thefirstthingwehavetorecognizeisthatwehaveverylittleofthematpresent；andthatthislittlehasnotbeenproducedbycompulsoryeducation:nay，thatthescarcityisunnaturalandhasbeenproducedbytheviolentexclusionofartandartistsfromschools。Ontheotherhandwehavequiteaconsiderabledegreeofbodilyculture:indeedthereisacontinualoutcryagainstthesacrificeofmentalaccomplishmentstoathletics。Inotherwordsasacrificeoftheprofessedobjectofcompulsoryeducationtotherealobjectofvoluntaryeducation。Itisassumedthatthismeansthatpeoplepreferbodilytomentalculture；butmayitnotmeanthattheypreferlibertyandsatisfactiontocoercionandprivation。WhyisitthatpeoplewhohavebeentaughtShakespearasaschoolsubjectloathehisplaysandcannotbyanymeansbepersuadedevertoopenhisworksaftertheyescapefromschool，whereasthereisstill，300yearsafterhisdeath，awideandsteady
saleforhisworkstopeoplewhoreadhisplaysasplays，andnotastaskwork?IfShakespear，orforthatmatter，NewtonandLeibnitz，areallowedtofindtheirreadersandstudentstheywillfindthem。Iftheirworksareannotatedandparaphrasedbydullards，andtheannotationsandparaphrasesforcedonallyoungpeoplebyimprisonmentandfloggingandscolding，therewillnotbeasinglemanoflettersorhighermathematicianthemoreinthecountry:onthecontrarytherewillbeless，assomanypotentialloversofliteratureandmathematicswillhavebeenincurablyprejudicedagainstthem。Everyonewhoisconversantwiththeclassinwhichchildimprisonmentandcompulsoryschoolingiscarriedouttothefinalextremityoftheuniversitydegreeknowsthatitsscholasticcultureisasham；thatitknowslittleaboutliteratureorartandagreatdealaboutpoint-to-pointraces；andthatthevillagecobbler，whohasneverreadapageofPlato，andisadmittedlyadangerouslyignorantmanpolitically，isneverthelessaSocratescomparedtotheclassicallyeducatedgentlemenwhodiscusspoliticsincountryhousesatelectiontime(andatnoothertime)aftertheirday\'searnestandskilfulshooting。Thinkoftheyearsandyearsofwearytormentthewomenofthepiano-possessingclasshavebeenforcedtospendoverthekeyboard，fingeringscales。Howmanyofthemcouldbebribedtoattendapianoforterecitalbyagreatplayer，thoughtheywillrisefromsickbedsratherthanmissAscotorGoodwood?
