CO885-(20-21) — Page 629

Not to be destroyed.

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office.

A

Miscellaneous

No. 265.

THE VISUAL INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

6

C.O.885

21 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

L-FORMATION OF THE VISUAL INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE.

The Visual Instruction Committee dates from 1902. Various organisations in this country had drawn attention to the need for giving to the people of the United Kingdom and of the Overseas Dominions and Colonies a more vivid` and accurate knowledge than they possess of the geography, the social life, and the economic possibilities of the different parts of the Empire. Professor M. E. Sadler, who was at the time Director of Special Enquiries at the Board of Education, and who in that capacity initiated a series of very valuable reports on the educational systems of the Overseas Dominions and Colonies, made suggestions for providing, on uniform lines, lectures of the highest standard, illustrated by lantern slides of the best quality, for use in the schools of the United Kingdom, India, and the Colonies. He had recently noted in the State of New York how much educational work of high quality was being carried out in that State, with the aid of public funds, in the form of lectures illustrated by lantern slides, and he drew up, at my request, memoranda (see Colonial Office Paper, Miscellaneous No. 150, December, 1902) which I was able to lay before Mr. Chamberlain, then Secretary of State. The result was that Mr. Chamberlain approved the appoint- ment of a small committee to consider the matter, more especially with reference to the Crown Colonies in the first instance. At the same time a letter was addressed to all the representatives in this country of the self-governing Dominions to apprise them of what was in contemplation, and to ask what steps were being taken in the same direction in their respective States. This letter and the answers are printed in Colonial Office Paper, Miscellaneous No. 152. The intention was not to propound at the outset any large scheme, but to work slowly and tentatively along well considered lines.

The original Members of the Committee, all of whom were appointed by the Secretary of State (Lord Onslow, acting for Mr. Chamberlain during the visit of the latter to South Africa), were :-

The Earl of Meath.

Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, as having had special experience of Crown Colonies and as being con- nected with the Royal Colonial and the Imperial Institute.

Mr. Mackinder, as representing the Victoria League. Dr. R. D. Roberts, as Secretary to the Gilchrist

Trustees.

Mr. Sadler, as representing the Board of Education. Sir John Struthers, as representing the Scotch Edu-

cation Department.

Sir C. Lucas, as representing the Colonial Office.

(20915-2.) Wt. 13918-G 163, 50. 10'11. D & S