NOT FOR BOOKWORMS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 152, 24 December 1929, Page 9

NOT FOR BOOKWORMS

GIFT TO OLD SCHOOL

FURTHERANCE OF EDUCATION

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, 20th September,

Not long ago Lord Kothermere made a gift of £10,000 to St. Marylebone Grammar School, whero he and his brothers, Mr. Cecil Harnisworth and Mr. Leicester Harinsworth, received their early education. Lord Bothermere's stipulation was that money should not be invested, but should bo used to further education in unorthodox ways. Tho headmaster, Mr. P. Wayne, is feeling somewhat his responsibility, but ho has come to the decision, to encourago picked boys to travel, at home and abroad, preferably with a definite purpose in view. Mr. Wayne said, in an interview: "It is a commonplace to say that travel widens a person's outlook, but it is true, except when people drift about in large parties liko sheep. I want my boys to contribute in terms of keenness and work. For instance, they voted the German tour just completed the most glorious of holidays, because they delivered "Twelfth Night" as well as investigated Gorman conditions for themsolvos. Their curiosity should have both scope and precision.

"I want to bring into the school men both eminent and enthusiastic in their subjects, to give occasional talks to us all so that we may enjoy tho breeze of their keenness. Ono can havo too much even of the best of schoolmasters, and, belieyo mo, tho best of schoolmasters think they can have too much of themselves.' I hope to have an architect, a poet, a sailor, an airman, a painter, an engineer, and other creative minds to apeak to the boys. In fact, these things have already begun."

THE OPEN AIFv.

Another scheme will provide for the physical needs of a town school.

"Permanent camping quarters will perhaps provide the biggest item of expenditure. Here, again, the boys shall contribute by building for themselves what is required. Good playing fields we have, but I propose to invest in our first boat so that this old grammar school may also have its 'wetbobs.' Our scientific equipment is good, but we can now compass thoso extras, such as a cinema, which give further stimulus to scientific imagination. " ■

Mr. Wayne holds some original views about scholarships. He continued: "You ask mo if I shall establish scholarships. My answer to that is that public facilities for helping boys to universities are tremendous and cover most of the really deserving cases; but where a boy of exceptional promise comes outsido tho rules and regulations, there I can help. Another addition to the school itself will bo tho setting up of our own printing press, for a school should offer full training and do its best to mako itself a microcosm.

"Tho school's benefactor wished tho benefits to bo given by odueation in unorthodox ways. 'Don't encourage bookworms,' said he, and I, too, am not particularly keen on worms of this kind. I hope it will bo seen that the gift is usod for education in its broadeat sense—that is, for life, not for bookishness. •

"Tho task of education fta I see it is two-fold—first, to foster imaginative powers -which, facing the world's resources, see the infinite things that may be done; secondly, to give character with a moral sense that will remind men what, in the name of sanity, should not be done.. "With tho blessings that our munificent friend has bestowed upon the School, I hope to achieve something of these aims."