In general, however, the whole
subject depends peculiarly upon the personality of the teacher who
feels no lack of text-books if he is alive to the interest of his
lesson.
In _Studies in Board Schools_[5], there is a delightful study of a
lesson on "Rates" to young citizens with the altruistic text, "All for
Each, Each for All." "Citizen Carrots," a tired newspaper boy up every
morning at five, is revealed as responding with great enthusiasm to
this interesting lesson which commences with a drawing on a
blackboard of a "regulation workhouse, a board school, a free library,
a lamp post, a water-cart, a dustman, a policeman, a steam roller, a
navvy or two, and a long-handled shovel stuck in a heap of soil." A
hypothetical payer of rates, "Mrs Smith," is revealed as getting a
great deal for her rates:
She is protected from any harm; her property is safe; she can walk
about the streets with comfort by day or night; her drains are seen
to; her rubbish is taken away for her; she has books and newspapers
to read; if she has ten children, she can have them well taught for
nothing--so that if they are willing to learn, and attend school
regularly, they can very easily make their own living when they
grow up; if she is ill, she can go to the infirmary for medicine;
and if, when she grows old, she is unable to pay rent or buy food
or clothes, these things are provided for her.
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