EMPIRE EDUCATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19261, 27 August 1924, Page 3

EMPIRE EDUCATION.

CONFERENCE IN LONDON. NEW ZEALAND V/ELL REPRESENTED. INTERCHANGE OF TEACHERS. (FHOM OdR OvfS" CORRESPOKDEKT.) LONDON, July 19. Tho Duke of York opened the Triennial Imperial Education Conference, which was held under the auspices of the League of Empire at the University College, London. Among New Zealanders attending the sessions were Miss Mills (Palmerston North), the Misses B. and M. Watt (Timaru), Miss A. Watt (Invercargill), Miss M. Andrews (Auckland), Captain J. R. Kirk, and Dr J. W. MMlraith. Sir James Allen was also present at some of the sessions. In opening the proceedings, the Duke of York said that ho felt very diffident, in addressing such a gathering, as it was really not so long ago that even one member of the profession which was so strongly represented at the conference was able to fill him with awe —the utmost awe. “I am emboldened by the fact that to-day the old order is reversed, and I stand here to air my opinions, to which perforce you must listen. I can only hope that you will give them more careful attention than I did. on occasions, to the discourses of the learned gentleman who was responsible for my early education.” His Royiil Highness then went on to speak more seriously of tn e profession of teaching, ami of the scheme for (ho interchange of teachers The president of the Board of Education (Mr C. P. Trevalyan, M.P.), in welcoming (ho delegates on behalf of the Government, said that one thing had struck him most about the teaching profession was tho danger of stagnation owing to small interchangeability. The best way of meeting this stagnation was by travel and change of scene. Knowledge of new worlds was far more likely than anything else to keep tho mind more properly stimulated. Before the war there was a system of interchange of teachers between this country and the Continent. A good many were interchanged .with France, because it was a part of French national policy to send their teachers all over the world, ns she believed it was worth learning tho culture of other nations. That could not be clone on a great scale by this country, but what could he done was to encourage the interchange of students and teachers in different parts of the Empire. His only fear was that teachers who went out would want to stay; blit he hoped a new spirit would arise in England which would prevent such a state of things arising. DR RENDALL’S EMPIRE TOUR. The Duke of Devonshire also expressed welcome. He said that tho Exhibition at Wembley gave tho people an idea of what. Empire was. As to the number of children visiting Wembley, they might he able to make some regulations for their admission. It was the poliev of the directors, however, to give every possible encouragement to every child to go there, as often ns it possibly could. They trusted, too. that old and young would make greater use’ of tho waste-paper baskets.—(Laughter.) Dr Montagu J. Kendall (head master of Winchester) mentioned that in connection with the Rhodes Trust he was about to visit the universities of the Empire. He hoped that one, of the chief functions w T ould be to assist in the interchange of teachers with the schools of the Empire! The Marquis of Londonderry (Minister of Education for Northern Ireland) saw many advantages in interchange. By raising tho teachers’ salaries they hoped to remove anxieties and he thought they had made great strides in tho direction of educating the rising generation. Sir James Alien said that if the proposal before them meant a diminution in the interchange of teachers ho would have nothing to do with it. English children were appallingly ignorant of the Empire and of the dominions. If the Empire was to stand together there must be early education in relation to it. He considered they would find difficulties in the way of the interchange of professors, as those were much better paid for their services in England than in the dominions. It might not be so difficult to arrange a scheme among lecturers. DEVELOPMENT OP INTERCHANGE SCHEME. The question of tho interchange ot teachers naturally came up again for discussion under the heading ‘‘The possibility of the temporary migration of university professors and lecturers to and from universities overseas.” The Duchess of Atholl, M.P., said if there was one thing more than another that would help to develop in tho teacher what he wished to convoy to tho children, it was the interchange of teachers between this country and the dominions. She would like to seo a scheme with that object in view developed and encouraged on the same basis of service in the colonies, ranking towards pension in this country and vie© versa. It was an important point to which administrators might turn their attention in order to co-ordinate tho schemes of training in all countries of the Empire, so that some interchange might be brought into operation. If they recognised the interchange of visits as a potent factor in training, it. might bo useful to have some scheme of that kind in regard to the masters of training colleges. W© would suggest that the colleges should be linked up with the universities, so that the work could be effectively carried out. Dr R. AL Allen (deputy education officer, L.C.C.) said the interchange scheme provided that overseas teachers should be brought into close contact with the children of Great Brilain and the Homeland teachers with the overseas children, and it was likely to be one of the surest bonds of Empire. Tho interchange was for one year. lie considered it should not only extend to elementary school but also to secondary schools, the universities, and possibly the technical colleges. The scheme had the advantage of helping promote Empire goodwill. _lt wan quite free from economic or political considerations. SPEAKERS AND PROPAGANDISTS NEEDED. Mr J. Clark (Director of Education, Glasgow) said the interchange system in Glasgow included teachers in tho secondary as well as the elementary schools. It was essential that the scheme should include teachers of every institution, from the primary school to the university. They, as teachers, must help to overcome the tragedy of the child of 14 by getting the children to think imperially, gaving them a better moral and social equipment and proper consideration of their fellowman. There were no better means of achieving that than by the interchange of teachers throughout the Empire. Dr AlTlraith. thought teachers for interchance should have had at least, 10 years’ teaching experience, and should ho selected not only by reason of their academic qualifications, but as good speakers and propagandists. It, was generally agreed that visiting educationists should not be tied too long to any one class, school, or district.: that they should be persons of good academic standing. and with enough experience to recognise tho problems met -with ; that exchange should he made more attractive; there should he hostels in which visiting teachers could find accommodation and companionship. The visitors should also bo enabled to see tho social, intellectual, and industrial life and the scenic and historic spots. Wll >E L Y RE PR E SENTAT fA* E. Dr MTlraith. sneaking privately on tho conference, said that it was widely representative of the Empire, teachers from Australia and Uanada being present in strong force. Delegates were present from such remote places as (he Gold Coast, Konya, Trinidad, and the North-West Provinces The brown and (he black races were also represented, both by men and women. “There was an excellent opportunity for exchanging opinions.” said Dr APHraith. “especially when the conference .was not sitting. The delegates were enthusiastic in (heir support of the interchange scheme, and strongly urged that no exchange teacher should suffer in compulation of service, salary, or superannuation as a. result of such exchange. The delegates have received remarkable hospitality from various societies, hut especially from tho League of Empire.”