Page 178 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

498 Records of Bahrain
499
The progress of state education, 1939 1941
20
21
Tho Geography of fcho Island. I suggest that your IT.Vri
s&&sr« *,;«? This should ho
n.-l'mito Instruction in Loyalty and Patriotism.
nnd tbufc your Highnoss should rivo instructions to tho Insri °9,ro°m 'va]|3 . nrovidud hi tho schools by tho sotting asido in tho timo tablo of ouo short
us tho limps ftro ready, to iiistituto tho fondling of locnl ns soon pir:0(l each week for tho purpose. A definite poriod is important, since
somei natural history, in nil tho schools for which ho is rosnn8rQ1P,hy- ®nd n' ,i matters for which there is no specially appointod time are apb to bo
should n so arrauco for occasional school excursions to bo nSf^ IJ« looted altogether. During this weekly period tho boys should be
parts of tho Island, m ordor to familiarise tho boys with tho j h ■ ° Various Mrcpsed by tho headmaster, or by one of tho othor masters, ou some aspect
of their own State. Tf loyalty or patriotism—uob crudely, or too directly, since this method
would probably defeat its own object, but rather with tho aim of trying to
live tho boys soino real understanding of the meaning of loyalty and
patriotism, and to show them why such virtues are necessary, and how they
can bo exercised in Buhraiu.

Tho period need not bo monotonously devoted to drumming into fcho
boys’ car6 tho same ideas, week after week. Tho time can sometimes bo
spent in talks about Character, explanations of Islaud laws and Government
decrees, discussions about local or topical matters, oto. —but always with
tho bins towards national duty and responsibility, national sorvico, national
ambition, and national pride. The boys of Bahrain should bo rnado to
feel that tboy aro to somo extent being taken into fcho Govornmout’s
confidence, by being told what tho Government is trying to do in the
Islaud, why it is trying to do it, and what aro the hoped-for results.
Through the Kchoolmustors as liaiso?i ollicers, thoy should also bo rnado
to feel that they aro being invited by tho Government to oo-oporato, as
for as possible, in its efforts to raise the reputation and the prestige of
Bahrain ; and once this idea has taken root in their minds they' will quickly
pass to tho next stage, which is a realisation that thoy themselves have
definito parts to play in the national lifo, entailing dutios and responsibilities
to the State, and feelings of personal loyalty towards its llulcr.

Nor need fcho speakers always bo schoolmasters. Suifcabio persons
from outside tbe schools should occasionally be invited to give inspirational
talks, or to address the boys on somo subject connected with Bahrain
history, geography, natu history, folk-lore, and so on. Bub past history,
upon which tbe Arab loves to draw, should not be the sole, or evou the
chief, source of inspiration : on fcho contrary, fcho idea should bo impressed
upon tho boys thut no nation can live permanently upon its past, and that
national reputation and prosfcigo are things which aro connected almost
entirely with tho living faots of tho present.

i a . repP0U8e tho boys to the kind of troatmonfc which I am surges fc-
ng is a foregone conclusion, for youth is always gonerous, and always
•whof0U? ° 6e*'ve : bub y°ufch mu8fc be given a load, and must bo shown
orrln! f u0a? d? to be,P* 1 fchorefore Buggesfc that your Highness should
jorto be instituted in the schools the definite instruction in loyalty and
Patriotism which I havo tried to describe. J