KHAKI COLLEGE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16263, 13 July 1918, Page 10

KHAKI COLLEGE.

EDUCATION SCHEME FOR N.Z.E.F

In connexion with the new education schema of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Professor J. Hight, of Canterbury College, received by the last mail a long letter from Private J. B. Condliffe (who was his assistant at Canterbury College), giving some particulars of tho scheme. The following are extracts from the letter, which bears the date of May 9th, and was written at Brockenhurst: — It is a long while 6ince I wrote to you, but that it because I wished to have some definite news to tell you with regard to the educational scheme for the N.Z.E.F. Now this news is fairly definite. For some time past, as you know, I have been interested in the various attempts to produce an education scheme. It was through the Y.M.C.A. in France that I first heard of the attempts, and then, when over here, Tocker told me of the General's ideas. I had visits from Tocker and Bnrbridge, and when the General himself visited the hospital I spoke to him. Mrs E. A. Wilson, too, was a good friend, and I knew Captain Kirk slightly, so, in one way and another, I managed to get in touch with tli9 ideas of the men on this side.

Last Sunday week I had orders to parade at H.Q., London, by 9 o'clock the following morning, and when I arrived there I found that about 30 of us, representing different camps and a. variety of teaching experience, were to dismiss the prospects of education, now and after the war. The chairman was C.iptain J. R. Kirk, now Education Officer, formerly a lawyer in Gisborne— I think you know him. There were two or three ladies, five Y.M.C.A. men. including the supervising secretary, Hughes; T. I>. Adams, of Otago: Burbridge : I. R. Robinson, one of Professor S°ott's pupils; the head of Rotorua 8.H.5.: Watts, an Auckland solicitor ; the Editor of the School Journal; W. S. Hill, B.Agric., of Moumahnki, and so on—a pretty representative gathering. The meetings were, like all conferences, wordy at first; but the committcs did a great deal of solid work, and as a result I believe a workable scheme has been produced. I sat on committees for hospitals, economic syllabus, and libraries, so that I was pretty busy, though not very fit at the time. The Gcheme now is that in hospitals and convalescent camps men are to have educational work for at least one hour per day, when the medical officer certifies that they are fit. At tho training camps' there will be only voluntary classes; but at Hornchurch convalescent camp as much as four hours per day may bo taken, any inroads into the man's freedom being compensated by extra leave at week-ends. But a start will be made with ono hour a day at Hornchurch, and the work extended from there.

HVo schemes were drawn up in oach subject, one • for ante-demobilisation, and one for demobilisation. Tho General asked for a scheme whereby every man would have the opportunity of learning: SHow to express himself in decent ish. (2) How to keep books of an elementary nature. (3) The elements of eoonomics, history, and civics. (4) The salient points of personal hygiene. > This universal compulsory course will be began now, first of all at Hornchurch, and provision lias been made for approximately a five-weeks' course, or rather a seven-weeks' course, the work in the various hospitals being coordinated by means of a training card. I will send you detailed syllabuses later, but 35 hours' training are provided—lo hours lectures on economics} 101 hours, history, IOV hours geography, 10$ hours hvgiene, • 10J hours English, 10| hours bookkeeping. This is meroly an Momentary universal course, designed to arouse interest. ~ , , A larger scheme is provided for demobilisation, to be worked out experimentally at Torquay right away. In practice, four hours a day, i.e., twenty hours per week, will be required for every man, but he may choose his subjects. A wide range of vocational training is provided, and I am particularly pleased with tho prospects of the agricoiltural course, which Mr Hill has drawn up on generous lines. A farm of 300 acres is already these, and he reckons on £7000 a year profit from it, having made £1000 from 40 acres last year. "He will do the practical work, 'alongside of lectures, and, if possible, research work tco. I planned a thirteen weeks' curse of economics, giving four hoars a day. but most of my work will be with bigger lectures, I' anticipate, and particularly I intend to specialise on rural economics. With this end in view, Mr Hill and I are now working together, and I- hopo to go up to Cambridge with him when I get leave in a few days' time. There are courses, too, in the* building trades, in law, tho ordinary arts subjects ('varsity undergrads will, however, be sent to the older universities wherever possible), and in engineering. The Y.M.C.A. is providing present cash, but I think tho Government ought to foot what bill there is in the end.

I shall be having some leave right nway, during which I hope to visit Edinburgh, Oxford, and Cambridge at least. Then I expect to be sent to Torquay to work there That offers my best opportunity, as both schemes will be in progress thero. and I can do more work. The conference recommended that, in order to coordinate the work.

We are going to aim at a standard high enough for recognition by the uiivcrs'ty in certain lines, and by tho Education Department particularly, and to that end we will nee»d co-operation at home. Out as to the standard, you will of course neod to suspend judgment till tho work actrnlly begins. I confess myself to some doubts, and everything will depend upon the teachers, "of course. Rut co-operation will cc tninly b" needed to link up with work in Now Zealand. When the scheme pets into working order, beginning will be mndo, if possible, by means of voluntary clashes in New Zealand camps, continued on toopships, and then work will be continued oil returning transports. But the Workers' Educational Association has a great, chance now with returning so T di-»rs, and so havo all educational associations. One does not like to'hope much, but the prospects are certainly promising. The General has made this scliemo his hobby, finance will not be and there are plenty of teachers. My anx'etv now is that those rf us with more expcrionco shall be fairly free. and. moreover. be piven a chance to train and help the other teachers.

In this connexion T know you will b~ interested to hear that thero is a prospect at last of the text-book you need. The conference recommended strongly that, owing to the lack of suitable texthooks, Larsen should produr><? something for the building trades: Hill for farm practice; and 1 for economics. Printing is, of course, a huge difficulty, r>nd finance a hurdle, too; hut arrainst that there is the undoubted ne:?d, and tho fact that such independent will probably appeal to the "General, and prove v.n excellent advertisement for the schema.

At the General's invitntion (he was verv -pleased v.-itb our work) to paid official visits to Oatlands and Hornchuroh. where classes aTe aWadv going. All tho men. at Ontlnnds Parle are limbless crises, but they have most '•lasses in. shorthard, tyning, bookkeeping, motor ensrineermcr. pairincr. wool-classing, carpentry. All the splints, boots, rantnr tyres, used at the hospital are cared for in the s~hool, and the spirit of the men is wonderful. One man with his left arm gone at the> el how, and nil the finders of right hand off, is writing excellent shorthand— about 90 words a minute. I camo ont> <if those class-rooms Very much touehbi. Hornchurch is very similar, but, with, the exception of the farm, the work was

more curative, and hobby ■work. That, however, will be remedied now—Adams is teaching English there, and Wilding, of Auckland,' bookkeeping; Watts economics. They are doing pretty basket work and carving, and also some excellent stained glass -windows.