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，butbyattachingcertainprivilegesnotpecuniarytotheemployments。
　　Mostacquirementscarrytheirownprivilegeswiththem。Thusababyhastobeprettycloselyguardedandimprisonedbecauseitcannottakecareofitself。Ithaseventobecarriedaboutthemostcompleteconceivableinfringementofitslibertyuntilitcanwalk。Butnobodygoesoncarryingchildrenaftertheycanwalklesttheyshouldwalkintomischief，thoughArabboysmaketheirsisterscarrythem，asourownspoiledchildrensometimesmaketheirnurses，outofmerelaziness，becausesistersintheEastandnursesintheWestarekeptinservitude。Butinasocietyofequalstheonlyreasonableandpermanentlypossiblesortofsocietychildrenareinmuchgreaterdangerofacquiringbandylegsthroughbeinglefttowalkbeforetheyarestrongenoughthanofbeingcarriedwhentheyarewellabletowalk。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，insistedonputtingmeonaratherrumbustiousponywithlittlespursonmyheelsknowingthatinmyagitationIwouldusethemunconsciously，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。Andasalltherestofusareinthesameconditionexceptastocommandofthecanetheonlyobjectionmadetohisproceedingstakestheshapeofclamorousdemandsthat_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；toexplainhowandwhytheuniversewasmadeinmyyouththeyaddedtheexactdateandthecircumstancesunderwhichitwillceasetoexist；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，isneverthelessaSocratescomparedtotheclassicallyeducatedgentlemenwhodiscusspoliticsincountryhousesatelectiontimeandatnoothertimeaftertheirday'searnestandskilfulshooting。Thinkoftheyearsandyearsofwearytormentthewomenofthepiano-possessingclasshavebeenforcedtospendoverthekeyboard，fingeringscales。Howmanyofthemcouldbebribedtoattendapianoforterecitalbyagreatplayer，thoughtheywillrisefromsickbedsratherthanmissAscotorGoodwood?