The Press Saturday, November 21, 1925. Lavishness in Education.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18545, 21 November 1925, Page 14

The Press Saturday, November 21, 1925. Lavishness in Education.

The feelings aroused by contemplation of the lavish provision made for higher education in America arc not wonder and envj- only. There is much that is inspiring in this thirst for education among the people, and readiness among the rich to satisfy it, and a New Zealand educationist, looking at all the needs of his country and the embarrassment of the national exchequer, may sigh for a few American millionaires. Yet with all this, doubts creep in. There is something almost oppressive in the lavishness of educational equipment in the United States. Those huge Universities, with their scores of professors, their thousands of students, their Greek theatres and other luxuries of culture, which with us exist only in dreams, produce an effect akin to that of a great hotel or the first saloon of a mighty liner upon a man accustomed to a moderately simple life. It is bewildering and somewhat crushing. Is education going to benefit proportionately by all this pouring out of money / Is simplicity not being ignored to a dangerous extent? May not the Americans, in their eagerness for education, be overdressing the lady of their love? Wliat especially moves us to ask these questions, is a description of the new block for the. study of the drama and the production of plays that is to be added to Yalo University. This building, which is part of the gift of an old Yale student, is to givo the University " the most completely "equipped laboratory in existence for "play-writing and play production." The cost is not stated in the ,particulars before us, but judging by the drawing of tho building, this onepurpose addition to the University is almost as largo as tho main block of Canterbury College. The Yale block will contain a theatre to hold 700 persons; lecture rooms; an experimental theatre; rehearsal rooms; workshop where scenery and costumes will be prepared; and headquarters for the Yale Dramatic Association. Tho idea is to have in the University a complete world for the study of the drama and play-writing, and the production of plays. Students will produce plays of the great world, and their own work. Before a production is staged in the actual theatre in the new block, it will be "tried out" in the experimental theatre below. University societies, " Little Theatres," and amateur dramatic clubs, will envy the students of Yale their good fortune. Contrast this perfection of equipment with the straits that our own students are put to when they wish to produce their annual extravaganzas I But is Yale's equipment all to the good? It may be cheerfully conceded that study of the drama has been neglected, and that the theatre has been commercialised to such an extent that the dramatist with ideas finds it very difficult to obtain a hearing. Is there not a danger, however, that the path of the student may be made too easy? Difficulties are good for the soul, and the task enforced on poorer Universities of producing a play with very scanty equipment may be more bracing than work in this perfect world of Yale.

Americans are great believers in instruction in. all the arts. They have courses in short-story writing, and they teach the art of writing for the theatre. It remains to 'be seen what the results will be. If systematised study and subsidised production can create really good plays, Yale should become fainous. America is advancing in drama, as in other branches of art, but we may doubt if the advance is commensurate with the organisation behind it. A London paper remarks of the sale of the Leverhulme pictures to America, that the signatures" on most of them are English. "One day, por- « haps, there will be an equivalent list " of gre.at American art signatures that " will make American pictures as "keenly sought after by connoisseurs "as British pictures are to-day. But " at present, it must be confessed, that "day shows little sign of dawning." One recalls, as one contemplates the magnificence of this Yale addition, the doubts of the. Carnegie trustees (in Scotland as well as America, it should be added) aliout the wisdom of spreadipgabroad so promiscuously opportunities for higher education. We have a similar problem in New Zealand, but the question of over-lavishness in University equipment—unless it arises in connexion with the duplication of special - schools —is not likely to trouble us for a long while. It is difficult enough to obtain essentials, such as adequate facilities for agricultural education. Before we think of special schools for the study of drama and play-making, let us see to it that our language and literature are properly taught.