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acquires his education； or he must show so much ability at an early age as
to enable him to subsist on scholarships until he is ready to earn his living。
The former condition is； of course； a mere matter of luck； and could not be
preserved in its present form under any kind of Socialism or Communism。
This loss is emphasized by defenders of the present system； and no doubt
it would be； to same extent； a real loss。 But the well…to…do are a small
proportion of the population； and presumably on the average no more
talented by nature than their less fortunate contemporaries。 If the
advantages which are enjoyed now by those few among them who are
capable of good work in science or art could be extended； even in a
slightly attenuated form； to all who are similarly gifted； the result would
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almost infallibly be a gain； and much ability which is now wasted would
be rendered fruitful。 But how is this to be effected？
The system of scholarships obtained by competition； though better
than nothing； is objectionable from many points of view。 It introduces the
competitive spirit into the work of the very young； it makes them regard
knowledge from the standpoint of what is useful in examinations rather
than in the light of its intrinsic interest or importance； it places a premium
upon that sort of ability which is displayed precociously in glib answers to
set questions rather than upon the kind that broods on difficulties and
remains for a time rather dumb。 What is perhaps worse than any of these
defects is the tendency to cause overwork in youth； leading to lack of
vigor and interest when manhood has been reached。 It can hardly be
doubted that by this cause； at present； many fine minds have their edge
blunted and their keenness destroyed。
State Socialism might easily universalize the system of scholarships
obtained by competitive examination； and if it did so it is to he feared that
it would be very harmful。 State Socialists at present tend to be enamored
of the systems which is exactly of the kind that every bureaucrat loves：
orderly； neat； giving a stimulus to industrious habits； and involving no
waste of a sort that could be tabulated in statistics or accounts of public
expenditure。 Such men will argue that free higher education is expensive
to the community； and only useful in the case of those who have
exceptional abilities； it ought； therefore； they will say； not to be given to
all； but only to those who will become more useful members of society
through receiving it。 Such arguments make a great appeal to what are
called ‘‘practical'' men； and the answers to them are of a sort which it is
difficult to render widely convincing。 Revolt against the evils of
competition is； however； part of the very essence of the Socialist's protest
against the existing order； and on this ground； if on no other； those who
favor Socialism may be summoned to look for some better solution。
Much the simplest solution； and the only really effective one； is to
make every kind of education free up to the age of twenty…one for all boys
and girls who desire it。 The majority will be tired of education before that
age； and will prefer to begin other work sooner； this will lead to a natural
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selection of those with strong interests in some pursuit requiring a long
training。 Among those selected in this way by their own inclinations；
probably almost all tho have marked abilities of the kind in question will
be included。 It is true that there will also be many who have very little
ability； the desire to become a painter； for example； is by no means
confined to those who can paint。 But this degree of waste could well be
borne by the community； it would be immeasurably less than that now
entailed by the support of the idle rich。 Any system which aims at avoiding
this kind of waste must entail the far more serious waste of rejecting or
spoiling some of the best ability in each generation。 The system of free
education up to any grade for all who desire it is the only system which is
consistent with the principles of liberty； and the only one which gives a
reasonable hope of affording full scope for talent。 This system is equally
compatible with all forms of Socialism and Anarchism。 Theoretically； it is
compatible with capitalism； but practically it is so opposite in spirit that it
would hardly be feasible without a complete economic reconstruction。 The
fact that Socialism would facilitate it must be reckoned a very powerful
argument in favor of change； for the waste of talent at present in the poorer
classes of society must be stupendous。
2。 Liberty to follow the creative impulse。 When a man's training has
been completed； if he is possessed of really great abilities； he will do his
best work if he is completely free to follow his bent； creating what seems
good to him； regardless of the judgment of ‘‘experts。'' At present this is
only possible for two classes of people： those who have private means；
and those who can earn a living by an occupation that does not absorb
their whole energies。 Under Socialism； there will be no one with private
means； and if there is to be no loss as regards art and science； the
opportunity which now comes by accident to a few will have to be
provided deliberately for a much larger number。 The men who have used
private means as an opportunity for creative work have been few but
important： one might mention Milton； Shelley； Keats and Darwin as
examples。 Probably none of these would have produced as good work if
they had had to earn their livelihood。 If Darwin had been a university
teacher； he would of course have been dismissed from his post by the
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influence of the clerics on