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KHAKI COLLEGE.

EDUCATION FOR N.Z.E.F. AN IMPORTANT SCHEME. (fboh oub own correspondent.) LONDON, May 14. During the week thore has been held in London an important conference to discuss and determine the syllabus for the education scheme of the N.Z.E.F. Thore were present selected teachers and professors from all the camps and hospitals, and the wnole of tue week was spent in close application to detail. Captuin J. li. Kali, VV.l.it., the offi- , cer in charge of ouucatiou, discussing the scheme with me, says it is recognised taut wnen our men left New Zealand tuey not only made financial sacrifices, but to a great extent lost touch with their ordinary callings in life. Alter boing on service for some time, and especially after being wounded, and possib>y losing an arm or a- leg, there ; was a great tendency to becoino indif- I l'erent as to tho ruture. . The average man in those conditions felt that as l'ar as ho was concerned life had nothing further in it than a pension. This frame of mind was recognised by General Richardson, and it was on that account that he oncouraged the establish- ! ment, especially for limbless men, of vocational classes. At first, says Captain Kirk, the men viewed the establishment of . these classoa with a certain amount of suspicion, there being an underlying idea that they were possibly devised on the part of tho Government to make the nion money-earning, so that thereby thdir ponsiona might be reduced. This idea had to bo eradicated, and by and by it was clearly understood by the men that whatever their earning capacity might be it would in no way be used to reduce their pensions. These classes have now been carried on for some months, with great success. "They have been continued long onough to evidence tho marvellous psychological effect that they havo produced. Indifference has been overcome, the Bpirit and moral of the men havo been improved, and their whole outlook has been brightened. Men who have lost both foot may be seen at Oatlands Parle making what they will never bo privileged to wear on natural limbs—boots. Others who have been disabled, and who were formorly farm labourers, are now expert j shorthand writers. I havo myself seen ' a man who has lost his right arm, and i has only the forefinger aud thumb on j tho left hand, and who was previously '• a farm labourer with no knowledge whatever of shorthand, writing seventy ; words a minute. Others are learning • wool-classing, engineering, carpentry, I poultry farming, pig-raising, practical | ugriculture, and so on." Though the war has been a long one, it is not unlikely that tho end may come suddenly, and steps have, therefore, been taken to make provision for getting the men as quickly as possible into touch with tho callings they will follow on their return to New Zealand. The matter was carefully considered.for a long time, and Genoral Richardson, whose interest in, and consideration for, tho welfare of the men are very personal, studied it in all its aspects. Voluntary classes were instituted in the hospitals and discharge depots, and lectures on educational topics were encouraged. The men attended these very readily, and evinced an encourag- j ing interest, and it was on the basis of 1 this experience that General Richard- ' son decided to havo a universal scheme of education for the Force. DICrGLVG OUT PROFESSORS. Recorus were prepared or an ouicers, nou-coaiiiii.saioaeq oiucers and. men, who were capaaio or instructing, or ieciuixug upon educational suojects; all who xiau Oteu. teac-uers or proje&sors or connected wnn education in any j other way in civil lire, and at tue bt>- | ginning of April captain xv.irk was ap- ■ pointed Onicer in L/iauge or Jbducation. j m i\ew Zealand, wnere he had been Mayor of Uisoorne, lie was a meinour of ■ tne Jttoyal Commission on Education in 11*12, aud aiterwards a member of tue ■ NationiU Council of Education. Ho prepared a scneme on the general principles of policy outlined by the U.U.C., I Lhe idoa being to ensure tuat when tho ! men return to New Zealand they will I all have a sufficient knowledge ot Eng- ! iisli to bo able to speak and write clear- ! ly and correctly; a knowledge of the proper functions of tiie body, and of oersonal and social hygiene; of the eloinentaiy principles of book-keeping (especially the books of farmers and small tradesmen); and that in all cases they ' shall have a sufficient knowledge of the ; principles of economics, and the lessons jf history, to be able to exercise pro- , porly their privileges as citizens. , bourses in those subjects will be com- : pulsory to all, apart altogether from ;ho vocational instruction. j

The .trades which will be provided for are, rougniy, iruit-i aiming, poultry raising, pig-breeding, bee-koepuig, horticultuie, soieutinc and practical agriculture, wool-ciaosiug, stud-breeding (wiiich conteiupiutcs visits to experimental and stud luruis in England), engineering, electricity, carpeutry, joincry, caomet-wakuig, wood carving, piuiubiug, boot-ouuKing and leatner work. For tnoae interested in professions there will be luil courses in accountancy, law, and economics (advanced). As regards economics there will bo nothing of a dogmatic nature, neither will the men be taken in any subject through the absolutely elementary part of education, such as formal grammar, syntax, and the construction of words. Provision will bo made for university graduates to continue their studies, and, probably, to complete them at one of tlio Home universities, while such subjects as forestry and psychology will be specially provided for. Indeed, where there is a demand for any special instruction it will be met. Evory care is being taken in arranging the lectures that the men's ideals of citizenship shall be kept high, and the very best lecturers have been made available. T'he whole purpose of tho scheme Is that the men snail be sent back to the Dominion useful citizens, and it is connuentiy hoped that this will-be lulhhoa by tne carrying out of the piogiamine nuw laid down. _ The toaciiuig wnl be made as attractive as possiuie, and it is ueaeved from experience up to date, tiiat it will be sincerely welcomed in tne camps and in hospitals. At a later date classes-will i also be established in France, so that ] when demobilisation dous eventuate all! | that will oe required will be an extea- | sion of tno existing system. The idea ; is that in hospitals tuere shall be ono hour's education per. day as a compulsory ration for all'patients who have been ceiuhcd by the meuicai officers as being lit to iomivo instruction. Simultaneously there will be lull courses of i voluntary classes, which it is oxpect- ! od, tne men will attend according to their state of health. t Much use will be made of cinemas and the lantern. Captain Kirk, who, since coming over' from Franco at the beginning of April, has already outlined tne scheme at all ! the camps, hospitals, and depots of the N.Z.E.F. in England, is tremendously enthusiastic over its prospects. The ' first essential, of course, is to win the ' war, and thore can be no withdrawal of ! men to interfere with the fighting j forces. But the moment an armistice ' is declared, it will be utterly purpose- : less to continue military training; all ' minds will be centred then, not upon ! the war, but upon peace. The men i will more than ever require io havo ' their time occupied, antf, under the contemplated scheme, they will bo ini- ; tiated into work which will fit them j day by day for their return to civil life, j as little handicapped as possible by their absence. > To return them to New Zealand as I useful citizens, with high ideals and a rational knowledge of the principles of citizenship, and ready at once to step ! into civil life, is an object of far-reach- ! ing importance, not only for the Force, • but for New Zealand. And if it is successful, as it promises to be, there will bo much satisfaction to all concerned if. in a personal sense, each is able to say "the work of my hands is | The scheme will be controlled by an executive comprising the G.O C., N.Z.E.F., in the TJ-n'ted Kingdom (Brig.-General S. G. THeliardson), the O'TWr in of Education (Captain J. R. Kirk\ and the snnervising s«v»retnry t*e New Zealand Y.M.C.A. (Mr G. W. TV. B. Hughes), who will hnvo an advisory committee of the C ; o.n of ench camp, while camp will it*plf have its own committee of instruction. • j

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19180710.2.65

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16260, 10 July 1918, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,415

KHAKI COLLEGE. Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16260, 10 July 1918, Page 8

KHAKI COLLEGE. Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16260, 10 July 1918, Page 8

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