AN IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17941, 21 May 1920, Page 6

AN IMPORTANT APPOINTMENT FOR NEW ZEALAND.

PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION. A PROGRESSIVE THINKER 'WITH "WIDE KNOWLEDGE. il'roh Ons Own Correspondent ) LONDON March 15. Major James Shelley, R.F.A. (M.A. Cantab), who is now at the War Office School of Instruction, Newmarket, has been appointed to the chair of Professor of Education, Canterbury College. Ho was educated at Cambridge and is 35 years of age, "and by an eminent authority in the education world he is described as the "moat original and capable of the youngest school of teachers of education in. this country." He was nominated for his new position by Professor J. J. FinoHay, MA., Ph.D., University_ of Manchester. His selectors were Sit Ernest Rutherford, F.R.S., and Mr J. W. Joynt (representative in England of New Zealand University), who were attracted by his modesty, versatile culture, and quiet enthusiasm. It is thought he will be a great sucoess in New Zealand. SCHOLASTIC RECORD. Gaining the first Senior Exhibition Scholarship of £90 in 1898 to BaWake Science School, Coventry, Major Shelley went on to Christ's College, Cambridge, in 1904, taking his B.A. (Modern Languages) three years later, his teacher's diploma in the same year, an<J his M.A. in 1914. In 1907 he became assistant master (for pupil teachers' class) at Heanor Secondary School, and the year following he was appointed assistant master of method at Chester Training College for Teachers. In 1910 he became lecturer in education under Professor J. J. Findlay at Manchester University, where he remained until appointed Professor of Education, University College, Southampton, in 1914. Jn 1916 Major Shelley joined the a«my as af private, and the next year was commissioned in the R.F.A. (coming out first in the examination -arranged for veterans as well as cadets), and served in France at the Ypres salieijt. It wus not long before his qualifications were recognised, and in 1918 he was appointed education officer to the 67th Division, being latex appointed chief instructor to the War Office School of Education (for training teachers) at Cambridge, with the rank of major. Deciding to stay in the army at the earnest request of Colonel Lord Gorell, Major Shelley resigned the chair tion at Southampton in 1919, and he at present holds the poet of chief instructor at the War Office School of Education (of the combined Oxford and Cambridge Schools) at Newmarket. For two years Major Shelley ha* been president of the National Froebel Society and Junior Schools' Association, and he has succeeded Professor J. J. Findlay as chairman of the Upland"" Association for the reform of education. He has written many articles on education, and he has frequently delivered lectures upon education, art, drama, etc. to many eduoational conferences and other meetings throughout England. His main interests outside education are philosophic and artistic but his school training was scientific, and he gained the Member's Prize for "gaining the greatest number of advanced science certificates." During the past 18 years he had produced a number of plays at Manchester University and at Chester, including some by Ibsen, Milton, Browning, Masefieldj and Shakespeare. Major Shelley is a married man, and has one son. LETTERS OF APPRECIATION. The Principal of University College, Southampton (Dr Alexander Hill), writes that Major Shelley almost immediately made hia mark when he was 'appointed Professor of Education at Southampton University College in the spring of 1914. "His students recognised that their professional studies had more vitality and interest than they had suspected hitherto, and the ftmfidence of the teachers and of educationists generally was secured almost at once. With limitless energy Professor Shelley gave addresses and public lectures on many different aspects of education, not in the town of Southampton alone, but throughout the whole of the ' Five Counties' which the college serves. Whatever the subject on which he elected to speak old truths were presented in new and captivating form, and new' theories of education discussed with such impartiality as to leave in the minds of his hearers the conviction that they too had a clear vision of the modifications of existing practice which are desuv able and of those for which, oven though they may be desirable, the time is not yet ripe. It was realised that he was not as ..unfortunately too many educationists are, a votary of every new doctrine, but a progressive thinker whose wide knowledge, sound judgment, and inexorable logic enabled him to distinguish what is wise and practicable from what may be wise but in existing circumstances is Utopian." FINE ARTS, POETRY, AND DRAMA. The Principal of University College, Southampton, further says:— "Major Shelley's profound knowledge of the history of art and the principles of aesthetics, combined with considerable skill as an artist and eloquence in expounding his views, aroused the latent sense of beauty in his audienoes. His devotion to poetry and his admirable rendering of the works of the poets opened up new •ivemiaa <•"* »*——■ r f or many of bin nnnila.

manager enabled him to select from amongst Ilia students tiiose best fitted to play various parts; by patient and critical training of his cast ho succeeded in presenting delightful and convincing dramas played by young men «ukl young -women wlk> hod little natural j" talent. No one of the crowded audiences which attended the celebration of the tercentenary of the death of Shakespeare in 1!)1G will forget the amazingly successful performance of 'Twelfth Night' staged as in .Shakespeare's day, in the College Hall. His teaching of the Cue arts, of poetry, and of the drama is but one of the- many sides of Professor Shelley's genius. He is a sympathetic student of trie child mind and a wise exponent of the teacher's art." "Amongst his other accomplishments he is, an exceedingly accurate marksman with a rifle." The writer closes this tribute of _ very genuine admiration by expressing the opinion, based upon intimate experience of the work which ho did at Southampton, that the university which secures Major Shelley's cervices will adrli to its staff a "singularly versatile, wise, loyalj and zealous member." The president of University College, Southampton (Mr Cloudo J. Monlefiore, M.A.), remarks that Professor Shelk-y "is not only a very successful and inspiring teacher—because ho is a bit inspired himself —who gets enthusiasm out of his pupils and wins their admiration, but has a touch of genius. We were deeply grieved to lose him at Southampton, and I am upset to think that he is now leaving England" Still, I must not grudge him to a young and valuable member of the common Empire Given health and strength, he ouglit to go far. With such opportunities as doubtless exist in New Zealand!, he ought to become a great educational force and cause many good things a.ndl many wis© developments to be realised in actual life. Lucky New Zealand!" Relative to his service in the Education Department of Manchester University, Dr C. H. Herford. Litt.D. (Professor of English in the University of Manchester), who saw much of his work in various directions, says: "He set tho mark cf his personality and particularly of his fine sense of tho worth of art and literature for eduoation, not only upon his department but upon the life and activities of tho university at large. Such of his public lectuio3 as I heard were extraordinarily stimulating and vivid. And his treatment of art and literature was made the means of a real enlargement of experience and outlook by means of dramatic performances, organised! and directed by himself, and usually deriving additional value from his own remaxkable histrionic gifts." HOW APPOINTMENTS ARE MADE. It may be interesting for Now, Zealanders to have somo idea of how appointments are made for vacant positions in the dominion. In the first place, advertisements appear in the principal papers, stating exactly what is required at the moment, applications always being receievd by the High Commissioner. The next step is to obtain the assistance of the ablest experts in the particular subject foT which there is a vacancy. These authorities go carefully through the credentials and select tho man they consider best qualified for the post. The men provisionally chosen are then invited to come to a conference at- the High Commissioner's office, tho High Commissioner presiding. Each applicant is called separately into the room and questions are addressed to h.'m. Tho advantage of this course of procedure is that the selectors are able to see the individuality of the man. Sometimes Ike selectors corns almost to a conclusion befc/rc they see a certain man,—judging by his papers and qualifications—that ho will be everything that is required, and yet, when he enters in person into tho room it is seen at a glance that he perhaps lacks personality, has' no force of character, nor seems to possess that power which is so essential to the con'rol and direction of men—in short, he appears a negative rathor than a positive personality. The result very often is that another man will possess tho qualities which are deemed essential, although his certificates may not be of so high, an excellence, yet the practical side impresses tho board. The essence of tho whole work is to select the 'man, .all things considered, who appears to be absolutely the best equipped' for the particular position that is vacant. Then cables are sent out either to the New Zealand Government or to tho particular authority concerned, -giving the names in order of precedence, which the selectors consider best suited, and almost invariably the name that appears first on the cabled list is the one whom New Zealand selects. The High Commissioner has had many acknowledgments from universities and other bod:es. in appreciation of the men thus selected.