tion that right opinion can only triumph through fair
and open conflict with the wrong.

The cause of freedom, then, fares badly enough in the world outside, when
we are only concerned with its application to those who have reached
"years of discretion." Inside the school the difficulties are admittedly
greater, and freedom has hitherto had a poor chance. Yet without
freedom, though there may be instruction, there can hardly be education.

In so far then as the staff fall short in this vital matter of
toleration, they must themselves go to school and learn; and he is
probably a poor teacher who is not himself ever learning something more.
Here perhaps the head master might find one of his finest opportunities.
The conscientious modern head master often finds it hard to rise above
the mass of administrative work attached to his office. He resembles
Philip II. of Spain, of whom it was said that he was always trying to be
his own private secretary. Meanwhile his assistants go their own ways,
each narrowing into his own little intellectual groove. The result, at
any rate in the more remote and less distinguished schools--that is to
say, the vast majority--is a society far from idyllic. Even if politics
were to engender "a formidable strife," the discords would not be
breaking in upon any very beautiful harmonies. Two novels have recently
been written by schoolmasters about their profession, and even if "Mr.
Perrin and Mr. Traill" may be discounted as the ill-natured revenge of a
clever man who had mistaken his profession, "The Lanchester Tradition"
has, we believe, been generally hailed as a truthful record. Masters at
many schools have exclaimed, "How on earth does this Rugby man come to
know all about _us_?" Teaching is spiritual work or it is nothing, and
the head master ought to be, as the greatest head masters have been, a
true leader of his staff in spiritual things.

Our profession is the most insanely individualistic in the world.
Probably the teaching of every subject would be improved by the
establishment of a really organised co-operation between the various
masters teaching it, and "politics," with its strong human appeal would,
with a leader worthy of his position, be the best place to begin.
Masters would meet for a genuine educational purpose--and the last thing
ever discussed at the masters' meetings we have attended has been
educational principles--they would learn to see into each others' minds