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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

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17 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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To the Editor of "The Times."

SIR, The letter from Mr. A. H. Stoneham (who has done so much in the interests of the Empire by presenting the Navy League map to a large number of schools) appearing in your columns of yesterday stated that the map was not brought up to date annually.

Unfortunately, this is not possible; but the map, since it was first issued in 1898, mainly at the suggestion of Mr. J. H. Yoxall, M.P., has reached its fifth edition, each of which has been carefully revised to date of publication.

Will you permit me to say that the league also publishes a handbook to this map, entitled 'Britain on and beyond the Sea,' containing a brief description of all British possessions, a short account of the naval actions in which our fleet has taken part from 1588 to the present time, and a reduced copy of the map for handy reference?

"I have, &c..

"The Navy League, 13, Victoria Street, S.W., Feb. 8."

W. CAIUS CRUTCHLEY, Secretary.

To the Editor of “The Times.”

"SIR,-Like your other correspondents, I have read with great interest the important letter from Mr. Allen Stoneham and would beg leave to call the attention of your readers to the work being done by the Geographical Association in promoting a knowledge of the geography of the Empire. Nearly 10 per cent. of its members are in the Colonies, and the first colonial branch was started in 1905 in South Africa. In the “ organ of the association, articles on the Colonies appear from time to time, written by resident Geographical Teacher," the members, and I believe that the colonial usefulness of the association will rapidly develop.

"Mr. Stoneham is mistaken in thinking that there are no school-books dealing with the Empire, and he has omitted to mention the excellent wall-map edited by Dr. Parkin, organizing secretary of the Rhodes Scholarship Trust, published by Messrs. Bartholomew, of Edinburgh, as well as many other wall-maps which distinguish the British Empire from other lands by strong red tints.

I quite agree with Mr. Stoneham that the neglect of the study of our Colonies is a serious blot on our educational system. If this is s in the case of boys and girls destined for ordinary careers, it is a hundred fold more so in the case of those who will be called upon to direct the destinies of the Empire at home, in the Colonies, or abroad. This view has recently been powerfully advocated in your columns by Sir George Goldie and others.

"In the School of Geography at Oxford, we are attempting to foster the special study of the geography of British lands and to train men in surveying and geographical methods with a special view to work in the Colonies. We are also endeavouring to form a collection

of the necessary maps, books, official publications, &c., on which a serious study of British lands must be based, so far as the very limited resources of a young department will allow. In the attention devoted to colonial matters in education, our Universities might well learn much from the University of Paris, where a training in this subject is regarded as of primary importance.

**

Oxford, Feb. 8."

"SIH,

"I am, &c.,

"A. J. HERBERTSON, Reader in Geography.

COPY OF CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

"30 and 31, St. Swithin's Lane, London, E.C., February 4, 1907. "I SHALL be much obliged if you will be good enough to inform me to what extent the Board of Education insists on the teaching of Empire geography in the various schools under its control.

"I am asking for this information in consequence of replies I have received to a letter I recently issued to the inhabitants of the Bosworth Division of Leicestershire.

"This letter was issued in good faith and based upon information obtained in the district twelve months ago; I now find that some of the statements are inaccurate, and I therefore write to ask you to be good enough to put me right by letting me know the real facts.

"As far as I can gather from the replies to my letter the teaching of Empire geography is more or less a matter for the discretion of the headmaster and inspector, but I cannot ascertain definitely whether particular text-books are approved or supplied by the Board of Education, or whether the choice of books is left entirely to the headmasters or inspectors.

"Will you be good enough to inform me :-

(I) What text-books, if any, are supplied by the Board of Education?

(2) Whether the teaching of Empire or Colonial geography or history is practically left to the option of the headmaster?

(3) Whether the Board of Education publishes or issues an Empire map for use

in the schools?

"I am glad to say that the map and books I sent have been highly appreciated, and have brought me letters from various parts of England and Wales and even Ireland, asking me to send maps and books, and assuring me that they would be most highly valued.

"I hope you will agree with me that Empire maps should be hung in all schools, that suitable text-books should be supplied, and that the Board of Education should instruct the

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Local Authorities to prescribe the teaching of Empire subjects, and not leave so important a matter to the discretion of a headmaster, school inspector, or even a local authority.

"To the Permanent Secretary,

SIR,

"Board of Education, Whitehall, S.W."

"I am, &c.,

ALLEN H. P. STONEHAM.

"Board of Education, Whitehall, London, S.W., March 6, 1907. "I AM directed to refer to your letter of the 4th ultimo, and I am to state that:-

"(1) The Board of Education do not supply text-books for use in public elementary schools.

(2) The requirements of the Board with regard to the teaching of geography and history in public elementary schools are contained in Article 2 (6) and (7) of the Code of 1906. I am also to refer you to pages 58 and 111 of the Suggestions for the Consideration of Teachers, &c., published by the Board in 1905 (Cd. 2,638, price 8d.). "(3) The Board of Education do not publish or issue an Empire map for use in the schools.

"I am also to refer you to the reply given by the President of the Board to a question put by Captain Faber, M.P., in the House of Commons, on Tuesday, February 19th, 1907. The President stated that the provision of maps or other equipment does not come within the province of the Board of Education but of the Local Education Authority.

"I have the honour to be, Sir,

•

Your obedient Servant,

"R. G. MAYOR.

16

30 and 31, St. Swithin's Lane, E.C."

"A. H. P. Stoneham, Esq.,

9969

SIR,

No. 135.

COLONIAL OFFICE to MR. A. H. P. STONEHAM. [Answered by No. 136.]

your letter newspaper

in

Downing Street, March 26, 1907. I AM directed by the Earl of Elgin to acknowledge the receipt of of the 18th instant, enclosing a reprint of letters to "The Times" connection with the cause of empire education, and requesting His Lordship to accord you an interview to enable you to explain the matter more in detail.

I am to inform you that the subject of your letter has received the careful attention of this Department for some considerable time, and that a Committee comprising educational experts and other gentlemen who have served under the Crown in the Colonies and India has been considering the best means of making the children of the British Empire better acquainted with the conditions of life in various parts of that Empire. The results of the efforts of this Committee in this direction have so far been highly encouraging.

You will doubtless also have learnt, from the letters addressed to "The Times," in comment upon your own of the 6th February last, that several associations exist having the same objects in view as the Committee referred to. His Lordship is glad to know that much is being done, and has been done, to satisfy these objects, both by associations and private benevolence.

Having regard to the foregoing, Lord Elgin is of opinion that he cannot properly give any special support to your movement as distinguished from those of other associations having similar objects, and that therefore there is no occasion for him to trouble you to lay your views before him personally.

• No. 134.

I am, &c.,

H. W. JUST.

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