BROADENING OUTLOOK.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1933, Page 6

BROADENING OUTLOOK.

There is everything to be said in favour of organised visits to the Dominions by senior pupils from English public schools. The educational value of travel is generally recognised, while personal intercourse makes for a better realisation of the outlook and ideals of young people in all parts of the Empire. It goes without saying that proper organisation adds considerably to the benefit of such tours, and the welcome accorded the schoolboys who ■ arrived in Taranaki on Saturday was spontaneous and sincere.. It may be that some of them will be required to take theft places in public af 7 fairs in Great Britain, but whatever may be their future the knowledge and personal association in their most impressionable years is likely to have considerable value in later life. In any case the visit is sure to . remain a pleasant memory of -kinship and goodwill. It would be a good thing for New Zealand if reciprocal arrangements could be. possible for visits of school pupils from the Dominion to Great Britain and other parts pf the Empire. It may not be practicable at present, nor is there, of course, the number of senior pupils to draw from that' obtains in the United Kingdom. If such arrangements could be linked with visits of secondary school teachers to Great Britain the benefit to New Zealand schools would be undoubted. It is true that some secondary school teachers have made such visits on their own initiative and at their own expense. It is quite obvious that such opportunities can only come to a few unless such travel is recognised as a valuable part of a teacher’s training and worth making available for those who show indications of becoming leaders in higher education. New Zealand’s isolation has a tendency to make its outlook somewhat insular in regard to education as well as in other public affairs. If this could be corrected by affording teachers a wider experience and outlook the necessary organisation might be well worth while.