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EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

within the period under consideration is the view now taken by many thoughtful colonists as to the education of aboriginal natives. In the early days of last century the doctrine of the brotherhood of man and the cause of the emancipation of slaves were steadily gaining ground. It was then assumed that the coloured races would without any coercion readily assimilate the customs and the ideas of their white neighbours, and might therefore be placed under the same laws. Now it is becoming understood that, just as we have to discover new methods of securing the advance in learning of boys who are no longer subjected to the constant, and even cruel, use of the rod, so in the place of slavery fresh incentives are needed to induce negroes and other coloured people of Basuto origin to adopt our industrial standards of life. It is clear that some of the conditions of civilized existence repel the great majority of natives, just as there are conditions of their life which prove repugnant to the white races. Only through education, and only then in the course of a good many generations, will any general transformation of native customs take place. Meanwhile, it is generally recognised that the more distinct the schools for the two races are kept the better for the welfare of both; and this principle has been extended even to Cape Boys and British Indians.

The only other notable movement of thought in connection with the school systems of South Africa to which allusion will here be made is the movement towards federal action of the various States. To begin with native education, the South African Native Affairs Commission has recently reported in favour of the establishment of an inter-State native college to be subsidized and controlled by the Colonies jointly. Such a college devoted to the higher education of present members of the coloured races for all practical careers open to them would have an immense influence in assimilating to one another the school aims of the various education departments so far as natives are concerned, and in making them feel that behind all