BLUE COAT SCHQOL

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 34, 9 August 1921, Page 11

BLUE COAT SCHQOL

BOY FARMERS FOR THE DOMINIONS

AN EMIGRATION SCHEME.

(FROM OUR OWK CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, 16th June.

What is to become of the boys of the great public schools of this country, is a question which is occasioning increasing, anxiety, for the old avenues of employment* are being blocked by stagnation in trade. Thoughtful persons who are daily brought face to face with the young of both sexes are asking themselves, "How far couldi the emergency be tackled by a properly thought-out system of onri-gl-ation from this country to the daughter States?"

This idea has been seriously taken up by the Gov&rnons of Christ's Hospital, or, as it is more familiarly known, the "Blue Coat School." Eighteen years ago the governors bought up some 1200 awes of land at Horsham, erected, the most modern and palatial school buildins, and transferred the scholars from London, whore the institution, had been carried on since it was founded by Edward VI. Thus the school possesses the inestimable advantage of combining the most modern sehpo 1 buildings with ancient traditions, which, placo it in an unrivalled .position for the part ox" pioneer in a special training scheme to fit the boys who pass through the school for work in the Bominions. "■

* With the view of interesting the representatives of the Dominions in their scheme, the governors invited the vaiious High Commissioners to bs present at their speech day last week. The visitors included Sir George ferley, High Oommissionoi for Canada; Sir Jam-as Allen

was represented by My. H.-C. Cameron, the officer in charge of Emigration for" New- Zealand; and Mr. T. .0. Maanaughten, vice-chairman of the Overseas Settlement Oomrnittee,; and a number of others interested in the subject of emigration. Tlie party dined in the great hall with the boys, and the manner in which they J aid the tables, waited on themselves, and "cleared away" afterwards was an object-lesson in disciplineand co-operation, on which .Sir Georp-ei Berley congratulated ttem later in tlia. day.' Other examples of the ,way in' which the boys are taught to look after themselves lei I one of th<» v/sitors to ns mark that, if similar training were only general, Englishmen .would no longer be regarded as , somewhat helpk-ss persons whon N they first arrived in the Dominions.

'Afterwards the visitors had an opportunity of seeing "the workshops, the manual school, the-boys' gardens, the science farm, and the d-airy farm. Tho school itself is set in the finest agricultural country,.'vkic-li. chrrolr] prove nici>t suitable for the purpose of-teaching ths science of agriculture. The boy's 1'" gar-. dens, in which they can do what'they like, were devoted in pre-war days mainly to flowers. Now, mainly asa result of war conditions, few flowers ivro to 'be seen, and vegetables abound, Tha interest taken by 'the boys in tie science* farm is. shown by the fact that t'n&y are prepared to sacrifice a week of their holidays, in order to get in their crops. A part of; the*land is 'under wheat, a.nd there are rotation scrips devoted to potatoes, oat*, beans, etc. Part of tho faining is directed to showini* 'be e-T'CKt of ma-n'i.vo on t.hw crops. The Hairy farm, a. relic of the. d:\ys before the pjreU reiiiw.il, a-lpnadA contains the Iwiniiinix of [he herd of cows which it is ho^ed the bnvK will some day tend, and iharc. is amn!e Innd available for fruit growing Should th' 6 proposal of the "ovevnors 1 be given effect to, further livestock will bo procured. . A GOOD TYPE OF EMIGRANT. The scheme which has been suggested for Christ's Hospital is that in the case of boys who desire to emigrate, the last year at school should be spent in fitting them for farming in the Dominions. Handicrafts and- farming, it is suggested, might be united as an optional subject. Handicrafts would include such subjects' as hut-building, repairing, and smithery. A teacher with experience of life in the Dominions would be especially helpful. The advantages to tho Dominions of a steady supply of a got I type of emigrant, with a public school training and the public school spirit, are obvious, while the school would benefit by finding good openings for its pupils, many of whom now drift into City clerkships with poor prospects. Christ's Hospital has many advantages which would-make it.particularly Suitable as the pioneer of work which, if successful, might well, be taken up by other schools. It is essentially, a school at which the boys know that they have to prepare themselves to make their own way in life. It is recognised, however, chat any such scheme would require very careful organisation, and it is urged that if schools in this country train boys specially for the Dominions, the Dominions, in turn, should provide for the reception of the emigrants, either by reliable farmers or in colleges for further training and adaption to local needs». This school, where such men as Emden, Stillingficet, Charles Lamb, and Coler - 1 idge were educated, though open only to the sons of people possessing incomes below a certain standard, is probably as difficult to enter as any 1 of the other great public schools of England, and the I type of boy that has tho privilege of be-/ ing trained thero would cei\tainly be a credit and an acquisition to any of tlit Overseas ; Dominions. - " FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES. There are 800 boys in the school, and an increase of Id per head per day amounts to £1000 in a year, and increased expenses cannot be mot by putting up the fees as .-it other schools. The moot that can bo charged is £20 a year, and at least one-third of the places must be freo. .It has been difficult, enough to carry on during the last few years, but the long history of "tht Religious, Royal, and Ancient Foundation of Christ's Hospital" has inspired confidence that if money, is required for a worthy object.it will bo forthcoming Sir George Perley, in his address to tht boys, laid stress on the importance oi their remaining within tho Empire if they left these islands, and the enthusiasm with which his remarks were received showed that the boys themselves agreed with him. .Sir George Perley said that while there was in this^ountry just as much room at the top as ever thero had been, the ordinary per son had a better 1 chance of gaining a competence than he had here. "Do not imagine," he said, "that you will not have to work over there. That is nec.es sary everywhere, although I regret to say there are some people just now who do not feel that way about it."

The great difficulty in the way of the Bcheme is, therefore, one of finance. It is intended to bring the matter before the various Prime Ministers assembled in London, and to have it discussed at the Imperial Conference.. If favourably considered, it i» possible- that other public schools in tho country will take up the scheme, which should be of great value to tho outlying parts of the Empire,