THE ROLE OF SCIENCE 49

be such as to give every one some idea of the value and
possibilities of science, and some appreciation of its supreme
 importance in national affairs,
The instances given above refer of course mainly to
war, but the importance of scientific recognition is a
hundred times more important in peace: the coming
conflict for national supremacy subsequent to the conclusion
 of peace will result in a crushing defeat for the
British Empire, unless our system of education is drastically
 reformed upon modern lines.
The remedy is to have a perfectly general education
for all up to the age of 16 to 164 years; in this general
education an elementary knowledge of science would be
instilled, its value and possibilities would become recognized,
 and it would be realized that the advancement of
scientific knowledge is vital for our very existence. To
what an enormous extent we are dependent upon science
at the present day would then be appreciated, and when
specialization at the age of 16} took place, we should
find a large proportion of the able and intelligent boys
adopting the science side of the public school for a more
detailed and formal study of the subject.
The present system whereby go per cent of the clever
boys at preparatory and public schools are earmarked
quite early in their careers for a purely classical education
would then be abolished : all would receive, in addition
to other subjects, valuable scientific instruction both in
facts and in methods, and at the age of 16 to 164 specialization
 would begin. It surely cannot be denied that
such a system would be of advantage to all studies, to say
nothing of providing a much higher type of scientific
specialist than is possible under the present regime.
[t may conceivably be urged that since science is
going to prove such an important factor in national development,
 why not copy the example of the classicist
and specialize at the age of 12 or 13? The first answer