Page 174 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

496 Records of Bahrain

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Tlio third scriouB deficiency of tbo Bchools of Bahrain is tho al>3onco
from ihc curriculum of uny hind of Training in Patriotism.

Ono of tho objects of tho Government in supplying public educa­
tion i?, as wo bavo sren, to provido tho Stato with loyal subjects. But
wo cannot expect to find loyally in peoplo unless thoy havo boon taught
it whilo thoy woro still ohildion. Nor do boys’ minds becomo imbued
with fcolings of loyalty simply becauso they aro attending school.
Loyalty and patriotism aro virtues which, liko uny othors, bavo to bo first
taught and then fostered ; and this involves a conscious effort on the part of
the schools, uud of tho individual schoolmasters.

Not only is thero a complcto absence, iu tho Bahrain schools, of any
putriotio influence: thero is a definite danger of tbo loyaltios of tbo
children-boing diverted away from tho Island and in tho direction of other
states. I was astonished to find that tho School Song was no other than
the nationul anthem of Syria, and that a number of tbo cxorciso-books
which were bring used by tho cbildron boro upon their oovors tbo picture
of a foreign ruler, instoud of that of tho Shaikh of Bahrain. But ovon
inoro ustouishing wus tho fact that no History of Bahrain for school uso
had over been prepared, and that nono of tho schoolboys had auy idou of
tboshapo or tho extont of his own Island. No maps of Bahrain wero
to 1)0 seen in tho schools, nor was tho flag of Bahrain anywhere displayed.
I could find on tho school walls no photograph of tho island’s Itulor, or
uny provision in tho timo-tablo for any.activity designed to lead to tho
inculcation of loyalty or patriotism.

This is a stale of affairs which, fortunately, can easily boromedied, for
loyalty aud patriotism cau be taught at school in a number of ways, of
which the following would probably bo tho most successful in Buhraiu :

(1) A kuowledgo of the history of Bahrain.

(2) A familiarity with the geogruphy of tho Island, and some
interest in its natural history.
(3) Definite instruction about loyalty aud patriotism, by means
of regular school talks.

(d) Bovcrenco for tho national flag.
(5) Tho U60 of pioturcs of the Ruler.
(6) Tho singing of school aud national 6ongs.
(7) Tho wearing of traditional clothes.

(8) Tbo removal from tho schools of any factor calculated to
lead to a feeling of inferiority on tbo part of Bahrainis as
opposod to foreigners.
(9) A consciousness of national iudopondonco.
(10) Tbo stimulation of national ambition.

Let us take those ton points one by one.