DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22352, 25 February 1936, Page 6

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

MR. N. T. LAMBOURNE'S TOUR OVERSEAS METHODS STUDIED With the object of inquiring into educational practice and administration in other parts of the world, the Director of Education, Mr. X. T. Lambourne, left New Zealand about the middle of last year on a tour'from which he has just returned. In an interview in Wellington, Mr. Lambourne gave a brief sketch of his activities while abroad. He is to submit to the Government a report detailing the results of his investigations. Mr. Lambourne first visited Australia, where he met educationists and saw school conditions in New South Wales and Victoria. From Australia he travelled to England, and then went to Denmark. While in Denmark he was particularly interested in what are called the Folk High Schools. Ihese, explained Mr. Lambourne, are private schools which form no part of the State system of education, though they are subsidised,, to a certain extent by the Government. They are attended mainly by country young men and women from 18 to 25 years of age. The schools for men are held for live months during the winter, and those for women three months in the summer. , " These schools were established nearly a hundred years ago," adcied Mr. Lambourne, " and their object was to deepen the spiritual and intellectual life of the Danish people. It is said tha during the past century they ht\ye had a very potent influence." After his trip to Denmark, Mr. La* ll " bourne, who was accompanied by ilrs. Lambourne,, visited scliools in Knglan, and Scotland, where he had the P lege of meeting some of the foremost educationists and discussing them educational progress and development. He- also saw many schools hd other educational institutions. . , Canada was the next country visited, and at Toronto and Vancouver Lambourne came in contact with " iaI H people actively engaged in education work. He also went to San ]?rancisc i. and saw something of the working the education system there.