Miscellaneous No. 200.
ILLUSTRATED LECTURES ON THE COLONIES FOR THE USE OF SCHOOLS IN THIS COUNTRY.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference :-
mmmmmfm C.O.885
18 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
THE component parts of the British Empire are so remote and so different from the Mother Country and from each other in geography, in history, in resources, in climate, and in race, that knowledge by the residents in one country or province of those living elsewhere within the Empire is as difficult as it necessary.
This knowledge is necessary, if the Empire is to be held, as it only can be held, by sympathy and understanding, and the difficulties can only be surmounted by the expenditure of money applied on a definite system.
It is obvious that if the knowledge is to be effective, it must be imparted to the coming generation; in other words, it must be taught in the schools of the Empire.
In the autumn of 1902 the Colonial Office took up the matter, and a strong Committee, which included experts on education, began to sit and discuss it early in 1903. They came to the conclusions :-
(a.) That (to take an example) children in the Malay Peninsula would never understand what England is like unless it was put before their eyes; in other words, unless the lessons about England were combined with lantern illustrations.
(b.) That these lessons or lectures would not succeed unless both the letterpress
and the illustrations were the best possible.
(c.) That the object being to bring and hold the Empire together, it was advisable that as far as possible the teaching should be on the same lines in the various Colonies.
The Committee had before them the double object of compiling illustrated lessons on the Mother Country for use in the schools of the Colonies and illustrated lessons on the Colonies for use in the schools of the United Kingdom. They determined, first of all, to compile lessons on the United Kingdom for use in the Colonies. They decided to inake a beginning on a small scale, and in the first instance they invited the three Eastern colonies of Ceylon, the Straits Settlements, and Hong Kong, each to subscribe the sum of 3007., or 9007. in all, to cover the expense of a small book of lantern lectures on the United Kingdom, for use in the schools of those colonies. The book was written and the slides selected with great labour and care by Mr. H. J. Mackinder, Director of the London School of Economics. The total cost was rather under 7001.
When this book was finished, other parts of the Empire were invited to have editions which would be suited to their own special requirements prepared at their own expense, and up-to-date editions have been issued for the West Indies, for West Africa, and for Mauritius. Editions for India and for Canada are now being com- pleted, and an edition for South Africa is contemplated.
The total cost of the scheme up to date has been between 3,000l. and 4,0001., the whole of which has been provided by India and the Colonies.
The Committee are now anxious to take up the other side of their scheme, and to arrange lectures on the Colonies for use in the schools of the United Kingdom. The Colonies cannot be asked to pay also for the preparation of lectures on the Colonies for use in the schools of the United Kingdom. Therefore the necessary money must be forthcoming in this country.
In the opinion of the Committee the success of the scheme depends entirely upon the work being the best possible in kind, and uniform in system with the work that has already been done.
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The experience gained by the Committee in the arrangement of the previous lectures shows clearly that it is of prime importance to use only illustrations specially prepared for the object in view. This has been found to be the case even in regard to the United Kingdom, where very large numbers of photographs can be obtained in the market.
Therefore the first step to be taken is to send a highly skilled photographer, and possibly a water-colour artist, acting under Mr. Mackinder's direction, throughout every province of the Empire, to take views and illustrations such as the work demands, and not merely such as might, and would, be sent unless a specially instructed artist were deputed for the purpose. It is estimated that this preliminary step, together with various incidental expenses, may cost from 3,000l. to 5,000. This comparatively small expenditure will lay the basis of manifold illustrated lessons, the cost of which, it is contemplated, will be defrayed by the various education authorities of the United Kingdom.
The Colonies have done their share. The part remaining to be done by the Mother Country is more complex, in view of the number of the Colonies to be illustrated.
It is very desirable to make a beginning as soon as possible, for the process will take time and the work must be well done. The Committee venture to think that money given for this purpose will serve the best and highest interests of the British Empire.
March 15, 1907.
PRINTED AT THE POREIGN OFFICE BY J. W. HARRISON.—10/3/1007.