NEW ZEALAND AND CANADA

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22429, 16 June 1938, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AND CANADA

EDUCATION SYSTEMS COMPARED IMPRESSIONS OF VISITING PROFESSOR Comparing the education systems of Canada and New Zealand, Professor C. L. Bennet. head of the department of English at Dalhousie University, Halifax, who is visiting the Dominion, said that in his opinion the training given by the primary and secondary schools in New Zealand was far superior to that given in Canada. Professor Bennet, who is a son of Mr and Mrs Charles Bennet, of Gore, also said that the attitude of Canadian university colleges toward academic freedom was somewhat similar to that ruling in New Zealand.

After suggesting that the educational authorities in New Zealand should make full use of their national literature as it developed. Professor Bennet expressed the opinion that Canadian universities offered the staff more freedom to teach and the students more freedom of learn. When he had been in New Zealand it had been the custom for a single professor to cover the whole of the tremendous field of English, whereas at Dalhousie University, for instance, each section was taught by a specialist “We deal with students in large numbers, and I feel that there is * certain amount of mass production, he continued. “I consider the primary and secondary school education in New Zealand to be far superior to its equivalent in Canada, and up to the university stage New Zealand gives its young people an amazingly good start.” , . H Questions of academic freedom naa been raised in Canada from time to time Professor Bennet said, and tne general view seemed to be that a professor could teach a subject as he saw fit in the classroom, but if he entered, for instance, into politics it was expected that the opinions he might give were his own and a university usually disclaimed them. Free speech had been discussed on a number of occasions, but no intelligent need feel aft aid of expressing himseli freely. Free Criticism by Professors “One of my colleagues has acted as radio political commentator for the whole of Canada, and, while exception was recently taken to his work, it was only because the views were being broadcast by the Canadian Broadcasting • Commission,” he continued. a great many college professors write for the newspapers and reviews, and publicise quite freely. One contributed an article to a national journal on the use of party funds and was severely attacked by the Rt. Hon. R- B. Bennett, who is now leader of the conservative Party.” , ... . „ Professor Bennet added that, inthe main, conditions were similar to those which, so far, as he knew, applied in New Zealand: Some professors were apt to speak a little too he believed that the university teacher, while taking an intelligent interest in political affairs, should not, as a professor. enter into political questions. After serving overseas in the Great War, Professor Bennet was awarded a New Zealand Expeditionary Force Scholarship, and he left New Zealand to spend three years at Cambridge University. Obtaining his degree with honours in English literature, he was appointed in 1922 lecturer in English at Dalhousie University. Halifax, one of the five major Canadian universities < Graduate of Harvard With the exception of two years spent in graduate study at Harvard University. Professor Bennet has remained on the staff of the Dalhousie University, where he is now head of the department of English. He is the editor of several school and college texts which are widely used throughout Canada and Newfoundland, and he has acted as adviser in English to' the Education Department. Professor Bennet intends to remain in New Zealand until September, when he will return to Canada. This is his first visit to the Dominion for more than 12 years.