INTERCHANGE OF TEACHERS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17707, 8 March 1923, Page 11

INTERCHANGE OF TEACHERS.

A CONTINENTAL TOUR. THE COMING YEAR. (FBOJt OUB OWH COEEES?OKBEHT.) LONDON, January 26. Teachers from the Dominions who had been spending a year in this country under the interchange scheme brought their stay on this Bide of the world to a close with a Continental tour. Some fifty teachers—men and women—returned last week to England after three weeks spent in France and Italy, and without express themselves charmed with their experience. The tour was arranged by the League of Empire, and Mrs Ord Marshall, the indefatigable honorary secretary of the League, personally conducted "the party with the aid of professional couriers. They spent a few days in Puns and then went to Rome, in Kome they were specially received by the Pope, who spoke to them on the profession of teaching.' Afterwards permission was obtained through bis Holiness for the party to insect the Vatican Library and other apartments m the Vatican, a privilege rarelv granted to the public. • at th« W^ B^ S0 , s P ent an afternoon allv+™?! Bh Sch ? cl oi llonie - ***** h storiA ' W 6y \ m H al] tl,e P of. il t '"f In :Plorence they Ord Marshall, and conducted round the tIZ'J" W6 ™??, hoin 8 hospitably enterj tamed. While in Venice the weaI ther was brilliantly fine, and the visitors thoroughly .enjoyed themselves in their own particular way—mostly in j gondolas. Three New Zealanders j joinod the party in .Italy, but remain- i | ed afforwards, in Rome. j Arrangements are being made this ' year for about eighty teachers in this country to interchange fpr twelve months with a similar number from ; gonads, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Of these fifty will P 0 ™ 0 to London and ten go to Scotland, the remainder going to Newcastle, Manchester, Leicester, Portsmouth, and other towns. Mr R. P. Broad (Wanganrn), Mr James Nairn (Ashhurst), and Miss E. B. Lea (Wellington) • are expected to arrive shortly from New Zealand. The London County Council are inviting applications from London teachers who desire a year's experienee In one of the Dominions. Development of the Scheme; It is explained in a statement issued by Dr. Allen, deputy education officer of the- London County Council, that the scheme is worked without cost to the public, teachers on interchanging re- ; ceiving the salary payable in the country in which they are temporarily domiciled, the salaries varying in different parts of England, according to the' scale which is payable in the particular area. Overseas teachers who come to London are placed in elementary schools of different types, so that the experience and outlook of each visitor may be widened as much as possible. The League of Empire acts as host, arranging for them to visit places of historic interest, and of importance in industry,-commerce, andother phases of our national activities. /British teachers going overseas see for themselves the spaciousness and ,the possibilities of' the . Dominions. 'Everywhere are persons and associations who give hospitality to the visitors, and explain to them .the resources of the country visited. The-scheme Is worked in co-operation with education authorities overseas, and many letters have been received testifying to its value-—from Australians, who have seen snow for the first time; from far-away New Zealanders, who have returned from "Home" with a deeper affection for the Old Country; from Canadians, who have marvelled at the Mother of Parliaments, and our eathedrals; and from English teachers, who have seen for themselves how their kinsmen overseas have blazed the trail. Before the war there was an initialexperiment, but it was only) last year that the scheme became really operative; Then the number-of exchanges fixed was fifty, And on this side there were just over fifty applicants, nearly all of whom were women teachers. The "exchanges" pay their, own travelling expenses, and the journey is- usually made during their hfiliaay leave. New Zealand, in view of the heavy cost ofpassage, gives a grant in aid of travelling expenses to their teachers, and Australia is believed to be .adopting a similar policy, the feeling in favour of having English teachers.put there I for a.year, and giving "their exchange teachers the benefit of acquiring knowledge of this country being strong. The "exchanges" are not allowed to reI main longer than one year, as if that we're permitted the number benefiting from the scheme would be restricted. Weekly Excursions In England. The London County Council were the ftrßt educational authority to give effect to the scheme, but its operation is expending through the efforts of the League of Empire to other places, as is shown by the list' given in the offl-t cial statement. Of the fifty London "exchanges" last year twenty-four went to Canada,' 1 twelve to Australia, eight, to New Zealand, and six, to South Africa. To the overseas, teachers the League of Empire act as hosts in the sense that they arrange weekly excursions to such places aB Oxford, and Stratford-on-Avon, and extended tours at the Christmas holidays, the visit to Italy being the latest development. ■. . . So far the London County Council has restricted the exchange system to elementary schools, but some secondary and higher grade schools have arranged exchanges. Some of those who come from the Dominions are highly qualified teachers, but they take the clatses here in the elementary schools of the teachers for whom they deputise. They greatly appreciate the educational advantages which London offers, and are constant in their attendant at lectures on educational and scientific subjects. As to the pupils, the advantages obtained have been proved by experience ever in the short time that the scheme hj« been in operation. "The (London school children loyo to have the places from which the teachers come'described to them bv those who live there, and this applies equally , to the pnpilß of the Dominion schools. |