'The public
schools,' said the Rev. Mr. Bowdler, 'are the very seats and
nurseries of vice.'
Dr. Arnold agreed. He was convinced of the necessity for reform.
But it was only natural that to one of his temperament and
education it should have been the moral rather than the
intellectual side of the question which impressed itself upon his
mind. Doubtless it was important to teach boys something more
than the bleak rigidities of the ancient tongues; but how much
more important to instil into them the elements of character and
the principles of conduct! His great object, throughout his
career at Rugby, was, as he repeatedly said, to 'make the school
a place of really Christian education'. To introduce 'a religious
principle into education', was his 'most earnest wish', he wrote
to a friend when he first became headmaster; 'but to do this
would be to succeed beyond all my hopes; it would be a happiness
so great, that, I think, the world would yield me nothing
comparable to it'. And he was constantly impressing these
sentiments upon his pupils. 'What I have often said before,' he
told them, 'I repeat now: what we must look for here is, first,
religious and moral principle; secondly, gentlemanly conduct;
andthirdly, intellectual ability.'
There can be no doubt that Dr. Arnold's point of view was shared
by the great mass of English parents.
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