dedness, and so we arrive at the function of
the staff, the many-sided staff of enthusiasts. Let each one believe
himself, if he is young enough to do so, the monopolist of political
truth. Let each one differ from all his colleagues on every subject
under the sun, except two, the infinite possibilities of the boys he
teaches, and the infinite importance of freedom of opinion.

[1] Is there a little irony here?

[2] Whether any particular single school can afford to experiment in such
teaching is, of course, another matter altogether. Gallio is a less
troublesome colleague than Paul, and Paul will waste his breath if he
complains of the obvious fact that such things are so. But he has a
better ground of complaint when he sees himself silenced, while Sosthenes
is allowed to carry on as vigorously as he pleases.

CHAPTER V

CAPTURE BY THE STATE

"It is a great and perilous discovery that the State can [as in
Germany] impress the minds of masses of men by a carefully organised
system of political education, and we hope the authors will bear it in
mind."--_Westminster Gazette_.

"Germany has shown the world to what evil ends the dishonest use of
schools and schoolmasters must lead."--_Contemporary Review_.

We have discussed the pros and cons of propaganda--the propaganda, that
is to say, by each master of his particular point of view--and have
concluded that, if certain safeguards are adopted and honestly adhered
to, such propaganda is desirable. But there is one particular form of
propaganda which no one, if he has any reverence at all for the
individuality of his pupils and the freedom of the world, can regard as
anything but an abomination. And here we meet with the most serious
criticism which can be, and has been, levelled against the project of
political education. Suppose, it has been urged, that your scheme is
adopted by a number of the public schools; suppose that by a steady
process of attack, this new and very powerful piece of machinery is
captured by the State, as a means of imposing orthodoxy on the nation
and nipping in the bud a great part of our potential vigour and
independence; have you not then defeated most disastrously your own
object, and desiring above everything more liberty in thought and more
self-reliance in action, merely succeeded in setting up a system
similar to that which created the national character of modern Germany?

It is at first sight a most damaging crit