VISIT TO DENMARK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 139, 14 June 1935, Page 11

VISIT TO DENMARK.

IMPRESSIONS BY NEW ZEALANDER "Denmark is very much like Now Zealand. It has a similar climate, and its people aro engaged in the same sort oi work," said Mr, D. M. Rae, principal of the Auckland Training College in an address at the monthly luncheon talk of the Lyceum Club held yesterday. After giving graphic word) pictures of Denmark the , epeaker dwelt upon the education system. In every Dane, ho said, there was a strong love of country and throughout the schools and university this love was kept alive. A great philosopher of Denmark, Bishop Grundtvig, had believed in concentrated cultivation of the soil, and through it a wider development of the people of the country. This philosopher was revered by the people, and in the schools and public places were portraits and statues of this man who had taught them cooperation. It was the first time, said Mr. Rae, that hs. had come across a country where the teacher had been put first.

There was in Denmark, continued the speaker, a great and impressive link between the town and the country. The feeling was encouraged in many wayd, and in connection with one school ho visited there was a lodge school or annexe, 20 miles away, where the boys spent our week studying the problems of the country area. That school was earning great dividends for Denmark. The relationship between the farmer and farm-worker was another most impressive thing, and Mr. Rae wondered if something like it could be carried out in New Zealand.

Visits to folk high schools where adults studied wages and profits and such things, ware also paid by the speaker. Among the students were unemployed men who paid for their tuition out of the dole. Tn a folk high school at Eisinore. which was international, students eaire from all parts of the world.

"One thing I particularly noticed, , ' said Mr. Rae in conclusion, "was that there were no slums in Denmark. There wero also very few millionaire establishments. The citizens lead a particularly high standard of life, and there nre many things we can study and learn from the small country of Denmark,"