RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19028, 27 May 1925, Page 14

RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MEN. VISIT OF DR. RENDALL. THE TREND OF EDUCATION. "The. central committco of the Rhodes Scholarship trustees in Great Britain feel they are getting tho right type of men from the Empire and America, and there is no doubt that Oxford is profiting as much by them as they are by Oxford," said Dr. M. J. Rendall, who is visiting all countries from which Rhodes scholars arc drawn in the interests of the trustees. Dr. Kendall, who arrived at Auckland yesterday by the Maunganui from Sydney. was formerly headmaster of Winchester College, England. In addition to visiting the various Rhodes Scholarship committees ho is meeting # as many old Rhodes scholars as is possible, and is inviting opinions as to how to get the best students. Dr. Rendall left England iu October of last year and speut nearly three jnonLhs in South Africa. Ho then proceeded to Australia, where he has been for three months. "Among other things I have been commissioned to look into is the constitution of the committees and the matter of finance," stated Dr. Rendall. "i will see whether the scholars need more financial assistance at Oxford." He commented upon the New Zealand Rhodes scholars, who liad done exceptionally well. "As time passes," ho said, "the trustees would be glad if Rhodes scholars took prominent positions iu public life. Up to the present too many of them have read mathematics and science, and in many cases law, at Oxford. Very few of them have taken up tho Greats school course, which jnay be called the basis of all statesmanship. This course comprises philosophy, history and politics. It must be remembered that the scholarship scheme only started 21 years ago, however, and the Great War intervened." Dr. Rendall went on to say that at any time there were about 200 Rhodes scholars from tho Dominions and America iu residence at Oxford.

Discussing the progress of education in the colonies, Dr. Kendall said that from what he had observed it had mado an excellent start, but it was essential that other things than scienco and mathematics should have full scope. Ho felt that too much time was being devoted to theso subjects. He also felt that classics and literature, etc., should take a prominent, part in school life. In most of the. English public schools every boy read two hours of divinity, two hours of history, and more than two or three hours of modern languages every week from the beginning to the end of his school life. That was important. Except in the. case of specialists n<>b more than four or five hours each week was devoted to mathematics.

Dr. RemJall, who is a doctor of law, will tour both the North and tho South Islands. He intends to visit the four university colleges and the principal schools of the, country. From New Zealand he will proceed to Canada, the United States, and thence back to England.