26 THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

This specialization within the limits of the subject
itself is also apparent in the case of mathematics: the
tendency is to treat all boys in the lower forms of public
schools as if they were potential university scholarship
candidates in that subject. The function of mathematics
in a scheme of general education should be essentially
utilitarian ; the teaching should be based to a much larger
extent on practical work, and the examples given should,
to a considerable degree, have concrete applications.
Mental gymnastics, so dear to the heart of the pure
mathematician, should be reduced to a minimum until
the age when specialization may commence without
detriment. Such reform would be of inestimable benefit
to the average boy, and the candidate for university
scholarships would lose nothing by the change.

The tendency to limit the teaching of a subject to a
detailed knowledge of a particular section is probably
less noticeable in the case of history than of most other
subjects. Most boys leave public schools with a good
general knowledge of the whole course of English history,
 and have not been restricted to an intimate
acquaintance with any particular period; but why not
widen the study still further? A general education
should certainly include a comprehensive sketch of
ancient history as well as modern; of other nations as
well as of our own. The relation of cause to effect in
the history of the Empire cannot be appreciated without
taking into consideration the contemporary history of
other lands, and, although this would entail a less detailed
knowledge of our own history, the general principles of
national development would appear in their true light,
and after all that is the chief educational value in a study
of this subject.

In no group is the failure of the public school system