Practicable Socialism, New SeriesBarnett, S. A. (Samuel Augustus)
Religion
Practicable Socialism, New Series
Barnett, S. A. (Samuel Augustus)
Great Britain -- Social conditions -- 19th century; Social problems; Working class
There are two directions in which energy should push effort: (_a_) More
space should be secured about houses so that in the fullest sense every
inhabited house might be a “living” house, with a sufficiency of air and
space and water to enable every inmate to feel in himself the spring of
being. (_b_) The Medical Officer of Health should be responsible for the
health of every one in his district. He should be at the head of the
Poor Law Medical Officers, of the Dispensary, of the Hospitals, and of
the Infirmary. He should be able not only to report on unhealthy areas
but to order for every sick person the treatment which is necessary.
Medical relief and direction should be a right, not a favour grudgingly
given through Relieving Officers. He should be able to prevent mothers
working under conditions prejudicial to the health of their children. He
should be the authorized recognized centre of information and direct the
spread of knowledge. Disraeli, years ago, set up as a Reform cry,
_Sanitas sanitatum, omnia sanitas_. Much money has been spent in the
name of health, and hospitals have been doubled in efficiency, but
because of physical weakness recruits are unfit for the army, and family
after family drop into poverty. The need is some authority to bring the
many efforts into order, and that authority should be, I submit, a
Medical Officer responsible for the health of every person in his
district.
But when children are strong in body they do not necessarily become
strong characters. They must be educated. Perhaps it might be said that
it would be a fair division of labour if, while the school developed
children’s minds, the home developed their characters. But the fact
must be faced that either through neglect or greed the home has largely
failed in its part. The schools of the richer classes recognize this
fact and set themselves to develop character. They produce, as a rule,
self-reliant men and women, wanting, perhaps, in sympathy and moral
thoughtfulness, careless, perhaps, of others’ poverty, not always
intelligent, but strong in qualities which keep them from poverty.
The schools of the industrial classes are models of order, the
teachers teach admirably and work hard, the children satisfy examiners
and inspectors, their handwriting is good, their pronunciation--in
school--is careful, they can answer questions on hygiene, on thrift,
on history, on chemistry, and a half a dozen other subjects. But they
have not resourcefulness, they are without interests which occupy their
minds, they shun adventure and seek safe places, they have not the
character which enjoys a struggle and resists the inroads of poverty,
they have little hold on ideals which force them to sacrifice, they
soon become untidy, they are an easy prey to excitement, and depend on
others rather than on themselves. The problem how to educate character
is full of difficulties. Happily there are workmen’s homes where, by
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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