Article from Faces and Places vol.3 NS no.8, August 1904
Lytham College
MARIE CORELLI Says in relation to the noble
powice of the education of youth, "overstudy is fatal to originality of
character; and both clearness of brain and strength of physique are denied to
the victims of cram. Professor Cadman Gore was an advocate of cramming; he was
esteemed in many quarters as the best coach of the day, and he apparently
considered a young human brain as a sort of expanding bag or holdall, to be
filled with various bulky, articles of knowledge, useful or otherwise, till it
showed signs of bursting, then it was to be promptly strapped together, locked
and labelled---‘Registered through passenger for life.' If the lock broke and
the whole bag gave way, why then so much worse for the bag-it was proved to be
of bad material, and its bursting was not the Professor's fault."
There is no doubt that a far better estimate
has been formed in these later years of what education is. There is no longer,
in schools like Lytham College, too confusing of the meaning of education and
instruction. Attention is paid to education; the leading out and the
development of the faculties of the personality; not the mere instruction of
the mind. To do this wise teachers of youth have realised that the whole of
the personality must be touched and influenced, and so more attention is paid
to health and the development of the physique. Mr. Paton, of the Manchester
Grammar School, said the other day, let boys have plenty of pure air and pure
water and they would be able to learn and understand what they learned in much
less time than if their minds were crammed without any regard to their
physical condition.
The Lytham College began about seven years ago when the intention was that boarders
only should be provided for. The original intention, however, was soon abandoned at
the request of parents in the town. The constant increase in the number of pupils
made it necessary, in a short time, to secure larger remises. These were secured in
Agnew Street. The principal was met again with the need for larger and better
accommodation. He accordingly decided on the building of a well-arranged and
thoroughly up-to-date establishment from plans prepared by himself, with the view
of obtaining everything suggested by experience for the comfort and convenience of
the pupils.
It was decided to build at Ansdell, where now stands the handsome and admirably
arranged college, a picture of which we are able to give in this number, together
with the face of the principal, Mr. John H. Watterson M.C.P., F.R.G.S. It is
interesting to know that care has been bestowed in the structure of the college
premises for every minute detail-those things which though small in themselves have
so much to do with the comfort and the success of life. A lock¬up bicycle house for
the stabling of boys' machines is one of those small but not unimportant things.
There is also a workshop for boys who wish to receive instruction in wood
working.
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In the school, each division has its own room enabling the work
to be done without distraction. A gymnasium has been added during the present
summer, and an effort will be made to have the tennis lawn ready for use in the
coming spring. The school has done well in the national game of cricket, and, in
football it has already made for itself a reputation amongst the schools of high
standing in the county.
As regards what may be called the morale of the school, there is
a splendid spirit of chivalrous loyalty to those great principles of rectitude and
manliness which have won the laurels of which Great Britain is justly proud. So
much depends upon atmosphere in the early and most impressionable years of men's
lives.
Every care is exercised by the principal and
his coadjutors to develop the good and to foster the love of goodness in the
pupils. That this effort has not been in vain is proved by the testimonies of
the old boys who are now to be found in all parts of the world.
At the last speech day, Mr. Brookes, in speaking of Mr.
Watterson and the work of the college, said schoolmasters and all who taught the
young had has highest admiration for Mr. Watterson they had the warm heart and the
clear brain-a rare combination-and a scholar of high rank.
Mr. Brookes went on to say-and his words were so excellent that
we quote them rather extensively: " For its successful commercial men the Empire
depended upon the masters who taught them, and the diligence of the boys who were
taught. Unfortunately for himself, before he was nine he went to business, and ever
since though diligently seeking to know and to learn, he had felt the lack of that
basis of education which might have given him gifts he could never have now. The
boys present had a grand future before them if they would only diligently perform
their tasks, and watch their characters. He had been engaged with a great
commercial house now for 35 years, and it had been his duty for many years past to
engage the boys and the men. He had therefore seen the necessity, of early study of
foreign languages.
They would do well to learn Latin, all
South-America was peopled by a Latin-speaking race; but all languages would be
valuable to them if they entered into commerce. He asked them not to despise
good writing, and said that the neglect by the public schools of this
important accomplishment often retarded a youth's progress very considerably
at the beginning of his commercial career. He often envied Mr. Watterson of
his beautiful writing, and he hoped the boys would copy it. To the parents he
would say don't unduly interfere with the curriculum; allow the principal to
take boys and prepare them for the duties of life in the educational sense
without hindrance.
He asked boys when they had left school never
to cease being students; always seek to learn. Some of them had earned prizes
and certificates. It had never been his lot to earn a prize, except for good
conduct, and that would surprise some of them. Don't be discouraged. The
virtue of life lay not in its prizes but upon the struggle to gain. Milton
only received £15 for his 'Paradise Lost.' Yet who would dare to say he had
failed because of the lowness of the reward. Above all let the boys watch
their characters. They could not find a sufficient supply of men who possessed
average brains combined with perfect integrity. If God had not given them as
many brains as another boy, they all might have a high character for goodness,
truth and integrity, which would bring them success. Never be bribed at
school. Have self respect and self knowledge. Above all in this day of trashy
literature read good books, such as those he saw before him. The Old Book told
them to be `Diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. See'st
thou a man diligent in his business, he shall stand before kings; he shall not
stand before mean men.'
Be good tempered. He used not to be very good
tempered, but he began to train himself to think about bright things, and to
acquire habits of self-control. Study good manners and politeness, and keep
your eyes wide open. Ask questions, even if they are foolish. He saw in a
paper the other day some mistakes made by boys at school. One boy was told to
give a. little essay on a man, and he said, Man was composed of two parts-the
upper part was the head, and was supposed to contain the brains; and the lower
part was the bowels, which contained a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w and y.
Another boy was asked to give the feminine of hero, and he said shero. Asked
to say who were the five foolish virgins, another boy said, `them as didn't
get married.' Still he would not give anything for a man or boy who never made
mistakes. Use your wits; success will not hunt you. Some thought that men
were, so to speak, all placed in a row, and that chance picked certain men out
for success. “Nothing of the kind." Proceeding, Mr. Brookes pointed out that
Watt, Michael Angelo, Raphael, Luther and Edison all accomplished their
greatest works in life whilst still young men. Now was the time to be in
earnest. They could not fill the higher rank unless they were faithful in the
lower places. Looking around at this dear old England of ours, he was alarmed
to find that society was full of those who thought they might have done
something if they had not been slighted; that was self-conceit, and he wanted
none of Mr. Watterson's boys to have any of that commodity.
The Lytham College has won for itself a name for successful work
in the real training of youth that educating of the faculties, that instructing of
the mind, that development of the tabernacle in which the mind finds a habitation,
that directing of the personality-with which any boy is equipped for the battle of
life and without which no boy, though his head be crammed with erudition will
succeed.
The college has a magazine. Two numbers lie before us and make a
decidedly promising beginning. The second number contains an impromptu greeting to
the distinguished editorial staff of the Pittsburg High. School Journal, U.S.A., by
J. H. W., which is a gem.
The college has a motto, “Concilio ex animis.' That is
exactly it. With wisdom and strength, or, being more fully interpreted, "Decide
wisely what work you are to undertake, and having once made up your mind, throw all
your energy into the accomplishment of your task."
From Faces and
Places vol.3 NS no.8, August 1904
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