CHRIST’S COLLEGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16749, 2 January 1915, Page 12

CHRIST’S COLLEGE.

THE NEW HEADMASTER

INTERVIEW WITH MR BLANCH

Mr G. E. Blanch, who was appoints ed' headmaster of Christ’s College a few months ago, and who arrived in Christchurch yesterday, is a strong supporter of compulsory military training, and takes a deep interest in movements to encourage the Imperial spirit amongst youths and young men. Ho believes that the best work in this direction can bo done in the largo publio schools. This subject was ono of the first mentioned when Mr Blanch was interviewed yesterday. He said that he was'delighted to learn that 150 Old Boys of Christ’s College were with tho Now Zealand Expeditionary Forces, and lie hoped that tho school w'ould bo represented in other contributions made by New Zealand to tho Empire’s requirements in its time of need. The Church of England Grammar School at Melbourne, where he had been headmaster for sixteen years, had sent to the war one in every seven of tho men ho had taught. In addition, four of tlio masters and the captain and vice-captain of tho school had gone with tho Commonwealth Expeditionary Forces. The captain had been selected a Rhodes scholar, and the scholarship would ho held open until the war was over. To demonstrate the influence exercised hv public schools, Mr Blanch said that a native of Belgium, to whom ho spoke in. Australia a short time ago, repeated the saying tlyvt tho schools of Germany won the Frnnco-Prussian war of 1871, and said that observations lie had made in England convinced him that the public schools _ of England would help largely to win the present war for tho Allies. The defence system established in Australia was a good ono. It had shown its usefulness by the large numbers of men it had been tlie means of sending' to the front and tlio largo number ready to roinforce the others. As to his work at Christ's Collego, Mr Blau cli said that he It new that the institution had many splendid traditions. He intended to fall into line with them and to develop them. As a matter of fact, he had come to Christchurch as much to learn as to teach.

In reply to a question as to classical studies, he said that he did not wish to discuss educational questions until lie was better acquainted with local conditions, hut he could say at once that he was in favour of retaining Latin on the curriculum, because it was an excellent educational instrument. Science, Mr Blanch thinks, will claim increased attention. In chemistry, physics and biology, a system has been ad'opted in Melbourne by which boys do the experiments themselves and make elaborate notes, which aro sent to the University at the time of the matriculation examinations. This system has had very good results. Mr Blanch had been in Christchurch only a, few hours when he was interviewed, but he said that he had seen sufficient of the city to he charmed with its beauties. The fresh green grass and trees were a very marked contrast to the prevailing brown of the Commonwealth, which was suffering, from the worst drought it had' experienced for many years. “ T am proud to he connected with Christ’s College.” he concluded, ‘‘because I believe that schools of its type, with their traditions and the loyal and powerful associations of old boys, have an increasingly beneficial effect on the progress of the nation.”