heir fatherland, and to humanity." [5] We are
therefore in the ambit of secondary schools. The lesson we cite is a
practical application of the principle of giving lessons by means of
interrogation (Socratic method), and deals with a moral theme: rights.

[Footnote 5: F. Alengry, _Education based upon Psychology and
Morality_.]

"You boys have never mistaken your companion Paul for this
table or this tree?--Oh, no!--Why?--Because the table and the
tree are inanimate and insensible, whereas Paul lives and
feels.--Good. If you strike the table it will feel nothing
and you will not hurt it; but have you any right to destroy
it?--No, we should be destroying something belonging to
others.--Then what is it you respect in the table? the
inanimate and insensible wood, or the property of the person
to whom it belongs?--The property of the person to whom it
belongs.--Have you any right to strike Paul?--No, because we
should hurt him and he would suffer.--What is it you respect
in him? the property of another, or Paul himself?--Paul
himself.--Then you cannot strike him, nor shut him up, nor
deprive him of food?--No. The police would arrest us if we
did.--Ah! ah! you are afraid of the police. But is it only
this which prevents you from hurting Paul?--Oh! no, Sir. It
is because we love Paul and do not want to make him suffer,
and because we have no right to do so.--You think then that
you owe respect to Paul in his life and his feelings, because
life and feeling are things to respect?--Yes, sir.

Are these all you have to respect in Paul? Let us enquire;
think well.--His books, his clothes, his satchel, the
luncheon in it.--Well. What do you mean?--We must not tear
his books, soil his clothes or his satchel, or eat his
luncheon.--Why?--Because these things are his and we have no
right to take things belonging to others.--What is the act of
taking things that belong to others called?--Theft.--Why is
theft forbidden?--Because if we steal we shall go to
prison.--Fear of the police again! But is this the chief
reason why we must not steal?--No, Sir, but because we ought
to respect the property as well as the persons of
others.--Very good. Property is an extension of human
personality and must be respected as such.

And is this all? Is there nothing more to respect in Paul
than his body, his b