The Foundation of A Technological Education *

Abstract

TECHNOLOGICAL education is taken up by many writers on the subject at the time when a youth is supposed to enter the School of Technology; and scientific men, as a rule, do not seem to set sufficient stress upon the necessity of laying the foundation for it at a much earlier age. It is not indeed scientific men alone who are interested in this question, but they are the authorities who should speak out upon it, for they alone are competent to pronounce an opinion upon the value of scientific education. It cannot be expected that men who themselves know nothing of science, care nothing for its progress, and recognise none of the obligations under which they lie to it, should favour its introduction into our schools, and thus depart from the stereotyped and antiquated system of education, that brings up our youth but partially fitted or altogether unprepared for a majority of the occupations they are destined to pursue, and exposed at every point to suffer from their own ignorance and the impositions of others. Every one now-a-days should have such a knowledge of scientific principles and methods as will enable him to form a just idea of the value of science, and to distinguish between knowledge and pretence—between science and quackery. The political economist, who has to legislate regarding the natural resources of the country; the capitalist, who invests in their development and manufacture; the lawyer, who has to conduct the numberless suits into which scientific questions enter; the journalist, who claims to enlighten and direct the masses; every one who uses manufactured products liable to adulteration; every one who values his health, or has to consult a medical man or other scientific expert; every father, and, what is still more important, every mother of a family; every youth that is making choice of an occupation for life; or, in other words, every member of a civilised community, ought to be acquainted with the elementary facts and principles upon which all the applications of science are based.