In chapter 2, the boys attempt to establish a civil society and Ralph suggests that they have a group of boys stationed at the top of the mountain at all times in order to maintain a signal fire. Jack responds by saying,

I agree with Ralph. We’ve got to have rules and obey them. After all, we’re not savages. We’re English, and the English are best at everything. So we’ve got to do the right things. (Golding, 58)

Jack's comment can be defined as a nationalistic, which is the belief that one's country of origin is superior to other countries. Jack's comment about the English being the "best at everything" reveals his strong national pride and emphasizes the influence of civilization on the boys when they initially crash-land on the island. Jack has already disproved his statement by initially failing to start an adequate signal fire and then accidentally sparking a forest fire, which ends up seemingly killing the littlun with the mulberry-colored birthmark. As the novel progresses, the boys rapidly descend into savagery and it is proven that English children are depraved and inherently wicked like the rest of humanity.

The assumed superiority of the English and their boarding school training have instructed that they are the best at everything in the world. 

Therefore, out of national pride, the boys must pull themselves together and behave as they would be expected to in England, work hard, do their very best and be successful

Jack and the boys have already failed at making a successful signal fire.  The fire burns quickly and then goes out. Their second attempt results in a row of trees being set ablaze.