10
M
THE
HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
J. W. MARRIOTT reviews the new Hand-
finds
that many
book for Schoolteachers, and changes are being made in education which will
interest parents.
TEACHING
of
-ORE than 170,000 teachers In our public elementary schools will be eagerly reading the new "Handbook
Suggestions." published by the Stationery Office (price 29.). They will probably spend the week-end browsing over its 000 pages and making new schemes of work for the next school year.
But the most important thing about this book is that it will affect the well- being of millions of children, and ulti- mately help to make history.
The seeds sown in 1937 will conie to harvest 25 years hence.
The "Handbook of Suggea- tiona" is a sort of omclal stock- taking or a census of ideas. It shows how the Big Business of Education has expanded since the last Handbook" appeared ten years ago.
Certain "departments" have closed down, inevitably, and a good deal of academic "junk" has been removed; but on the whole the business is going nhend well and the outlook makes for optimism.
T
HE Board of Educa- tion has often been noeused of being tradi- tlon-bound and die-hard, but this is no longer trae. IL IS
the fully aware of
swiftly circumstances changing
of modern life. It watches new educational experiments with an open mind. It has a anger on the social pulse, "
Education is becoming a broader thing, more human, more practi- слі. A few years ago it was restricted to intellectual subjects and was excessively bookisli. What happened to the child outside school was no concern of the teacher's, and what happened in school
Was no concern of the parents.
The writers of the new "Hand- show clearly that these book" ideas must be abandoned The school must keep in touch with the home and the neighbourhood. Teachers and parents must work together for the child's good. Teachers are also urged to get to know the influences of the neigh- bourhood, but they are warned not to express disapproval in language likely to arouse resentment.
Sat
O many influences are at work upon
the youthful mind to-day broadcasting, Alms; clubs, libraries, companionships, games, adventures and mis- adventures, the spirit of the town-all of which must be regarded as factors in educa- tion.
The teacher must know them all. from the Coloured Symphony to the local ringleaders in mischief- making.
One idea which runs Bike an un- doreurrent through the whole
Turned
Upside
Down
The subjects which used to be thought most important in schoolrooms are now happily dethroned. Here is the new order:-
1. HEALTH
2. MUSIC and Other ARTS
3. HOMECRAFT
4. ACADEMIC SUBJECTS LAST: MATHEMATICS
book may cause surprise to many parents in the opinion of educn- iionists children are not naturally evil Bad tempers, moods of surl- ness, and other vicious symptoms that may emerge are generally due to wrong treatment.
O
Char-
NLY a few years ago it was Impressed upon teachers that they should try to inculcate good. habits in their puplis. acter-building was regarded as an important part of education. The schoolmaster's job was to "mould" every child into a fixed pattern....
The
"Handbook " has dropped that idea-a trifle unob. trusively-and now suggests that children should be given a healthy environment and allowed to de- velop without undue interference. In other words, there must be no further attempt at standardising character. The child's individu- ality is too valuable to be sup- pressed.
new
But not only are children natur- ally good in their behaviour. They are also eminently sane in their outlook and sound in their tastes. If they become cantankerous and intolerant in later life, if they fail to recognise beauty when they see It, the reason is that they have been spoilt by external Influences.
When 1 famous headmaster warned us last year of the dangers of physical literacy, we were rather bewildered at first, though We soon came to see what he meant. But do we realise that there are other kinds of illiteracy that must be wiped out before we can call ourselves an educated nation?
In our innocence, we imagined that illiteracy was abolished when everybody had been taught to read and write. Now we are confronted with the man who cannot think and goes through life with an in- ternal load of undigested preju- dices; with the woman who once "passed Matrie." with ilonours in English Literature, but who now reads nothing better than senti- montal novels; with the many men and women who surround them- selves with ugly furniture and hideous ornaments." without the least suspicion that they are ugly.
B
EAUTIFUL things cost
ΠΟ more than ugly ones, but until there is a popular demand for them manufacturers will continue 'their mass-production of asthe- tle" horrors." Our public taste is still illiterate."
The "Handbook of Suggestions" rightly emphasises the Importance of good school buildings and
HAINAN ISLAND DEFENCE
The Island also possesses a variety
of minerals, principally tin and cop- per, and which are being explored.
bitious programme being brought to In harbours allegedly being prepared to bear on Hainan has suggested a at the southernmost tip more than economical interest.
In
Japanese, Colony.
to
financial aid any
FRIDAY,
equipment. It is absurd that n 12acher should be struggling to
10 tench artistic appreciation small children when the classroom itself is shouting aloud in its ugli-
исля.
Education is an all-round process growing up, and not merely the lopsided development of one acc- tion of human nature.
In the bad old days Ilis Majesty' Itora pources" on a school al savagely tested subjects like Arithmetic and grammar. To-day they are more concerned with ex- ainining the children themselves. Are they well nourished, well elothed, well shod? Are they full of vitality and mental cagerness? Are they happy in schoo17 * Are they free to speak what is in their mlods? Can they look you in the eye and talk without being over- nwed or longue-tied?
These are the things that matter in 1037.
W
TE have long since given up the idea that a man Is educated because he has memorised the dates of all the kings and queens of England and can recite the list of rivers on the East Const., To quote the book:
"The fully educated person is one who is enlightened in his in- terests, impersonal in his Judg. ments, ready in his sympathy for whatever is right and just, effec- tive in the work he sets himself to do, and willing to lend a hand to anyone who is in need of it."
An Illuminating definition-and memorable. The idea in that one sentence floodlights the whole con- ception of education at the pre- sent day.
When the
Handbook" descends
to the disenssion of the curriculum It is significant that the intellec- tual subjects (plaeed Arst in 1927) are put last.
The Arst and most fundamental subject is "Health and Physical Training." Then come Music and the Arts and Crafts (no longer separated by an impassable gulf). There follow chapters on Needle- craft and Hosecraft. And then, it should be noted, the academic sub- Jects English Language and Literature. History, Geography, Nature Study, Selence, and--last of all-Mathematics.
But even these old favourite sub- jects are to be inught in a new Way. They are not considered munition-dumpa for examiners.
They are intimately linked with daily life at every possible point.
HISTORY lesson may take a class to an old castle or the parish church. Geography may lead to a school journey. Half a dozen branches of science may be learnt in the school garden. A girl learns arithmetic by going shopping, studying food prices, and finding out how to invest any money she may be able to
save.
The new Handbook of Sugges- tions" is full of encouragement for teachers in elementary schools.
One's only regret is that pupils
schools In secondary
are still obliged to live under the old dis- pensation. with is everlasting grind and the unremitting pres- *sure of an archale examination
system.
To-day's Thought- A WISE man will be master of his mind, a fool will be its slave.
---SYRUS.
BY A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
JULY 30, 1937.
THIEVING
IN BIRDLAND
Belys a strong NESTING
temptution in the pathway of not a few of our well-known and res- The temptation pected wild birds,
is to steal the eggs not only of other but also of their own kind.
Outstanding among the offenders is the black-headed gull. This hand- some and clever bird of the plough spends much of his time during the nesting season in deliberate and flagrant thieving. He even takes the CCES of his fellow "black-heads," while the nests are unguarded. You will notlee, if you are an observer of bird-life in the countryside, that black-headed gulls practically dis- the fields in' spring- appear from time. They congregate at some lochan or marsh, where they nest, and in the immediate vleinily they are to be seen Dying leisurely over the fields or along the slopes of hills on the keeping their alert eyes
of an untended ground in search nest or of a sitting bird. Even at the 3,000 or 4,000 feet level of the. hills, bands of these gulls may be of the nests seen searching for grouse or ptarmigan and many are the eggs they find and suck. Brave Defenders
Besides partridge, pheasant and wild duck, the once persecuted lap- wing is a sufferer at the hands of the black-headed gull. And no bird is more brave in the defence of its nest.
Indeed, any intruder upon its nesting territory, be it rook or hawk er gull, is given no peace unth It is driven off. I have seen a band of #t black-headed "mob" lapwings gull, Intent on plunder, until the Door bird was beaten to the ground, from which it never rose again.
The magpie 1s another notorious thief. It takes the eggs of small as well as big birds. Partridge and pheasant suffer heavy losses at its hands. It even enters henhouses out In the open fields and helps itself to a hen's egg. Similarly the rook and much more widely the "honde" crow are addicted to the thieving habit and as a result are on the
of lists
the gamekeepers bluck everywhere.
Among seabirds proper, the ber- ring gull cannot resist the temptation to enjoy the tasty bite offered in on untended THE While Cormorants and guillemots are out at sea feed- ing, the herring gulis pay periodic visits to the nests and either cat the eggs on the spot or carry them away in their beaks.
Bullies
There is another type of thieving which is carried out by means of bullying. When feeding of young is at its height and much searching has to be done, bigger birds often bully smaller ones into dropping their benkfuls of food. Thus ย missel thrush will bully a robin, or rooks a starling. The other day I saw about half-a-dozen rooks and a magple chase a starting which was carrying an enormous mouthful of food to its nest. The race was fast and furious, the birds twisting and turning and swooping until at last the starting appeared to find refuge in a hole in a tree and the elage ended.
Thosa force sea birds, the skuns, practically live by this bullying practice. When they come upon a flock of herring gulls feeding on herring, they select one victim from the number and, giving chase with ferocity and terrifying eries, follow- ing every turn and dodge relentless- ly, they cause the frightened bird
or
like £ falcon and
It
strikes the
I. I. M.
Kainan Island, lying out in the A glance at the map will show Chion will also have an advance post Strong enough to defend ilainen as South China Sea as the southernmost these territories as French Indo- for a long and exposed coast-line, an integral part of her national fer- tip of China, has suddenly become a China lying on the other side of the The advantage to China, will be in a ritory.
There are grounds for supposing focht point of international interest. Gulf of Tonkin; the French leased food-and-life line into her interior
to she hus had doubts of her own Though less than 30,000 sq. miles territory of Kwang Chow Wan with provinces guarded from Hainan, in
13 linked up the event of her being forced in extent, it enjoys a climate unique which Indo-China
and the British abandon Canton with her maritime ability to defend It, without embark- and distinct from the remainder of administratively;
ing on vast military expenditure, China, making possible the growth Colony of Hongkong, great commer- provinces.
to disgorge the newly-caught sh When a fleet of Japanese men-of- of cotton and rubber, vital raw etal emporium through which passes
It is his mutual apprehension of war made the murder of a Japanese wilet has just been swallowed
www. materials which the country needs much of British trade with China.
what has been termed "the south national at Pakhai a year ago an the half digested fish which was
caught some time before-hand. and has to import.
All these foreign-held territories, ward expansion of Japan" which occasion for a massed the Ash is dropped in mid-air, the with Hainan as their central axis, are gives to Anglo-Chinese relations of ton at Helhow, chief port of
doubts would seem on the skua swoops within only a few hours reach of to-day their peculiar realism, making these fast bomber planes from Formosa the Intimate link between Hongkong verge of realisation. The threatened catches it before
blow did within the radius also of a powerful and Kwangtung closer than has ever blow
impression, to-day a deep However, the exceptionally am- Japanese visit such as may be based been thought possible. It gives point has left not fall, but the Baval visit water,
which this
this apparent in a hurried preparations of the country can give to China in the tor fortifications and other defences
interests of collective security. The for the Island, even before the rich for any other of her far-flung posses- few million pounds sterling which hatural resources have had time to slons. the £3,000,000 It is proposed spend initially on development, are If Hongkong should fall, as some China needs for a strongly-defended be fully developed,
This defence programme enviroges included the costs of projected military experis foretell who believe Hainan may well be expected from
A substantial British loan for then considerable expansion of her Far defences: nerodromes, tortiñcations, It is vulnerable to a massed air attack the two olher Powers who are to
"development" of Hainan may be 'Eastern Fleet and Indo-China gar- a strategic system of railways, and at in the new condillons foreseen for beneat from a greater security. least one first-class navel harbour. the next war, the British Far Eastern
France is confining her expected to emerge as concrete ex- rison, to include the conscription of Fleet, powerful as it already is, and
A powerful naval base for this Though it is quite easy to under-
augmented flect is to be constructed stand all these productive riches will still. much more so with the rein- assistance to certain Chinese railroads Pression of the new Anglo-Chinese 6,000,000 nailves if the need arises. This British interest in Hainon has at Cam Ranh Bay, with a secondary be guarded when fally forcements envisaged for It under projected for Szechuan and other co-operation.
the new British Imperial Defence inland provinces which can even. developed, the haste with which the Scheme, will be forced to abandon tually be linked up at Yunnanfu with been followed by reactions in Japan base in the land-locked Day of Along.
Indo-Cbina system of defences side of the programme smell harbour with the potential her
insistent British loan reports.
control of the South China Sea and being pursued analogous with put itles in that event of a death-trop, communications. she is reported also where wide credence is given to the The Cam Ranh base will give her to Singapore, while the approach Ting the cart before the horses for an alternative base from which, to be "benevolently disposed towards
greater The man at the head of adminis- the Along base will give Impresses Domething which
the with greater manoeuvrability assured, a tripartite understanding regarding
Irative affairs in Elainan to-day is security to the Gulf of Tonkin. The observer more than the delightful it can continue to control a vital link Hainan.
General Gaston Wong Keung, ʼn very physical features of this Buy with picture painted of a new-found in Imperial communications.
Such an understanding, as a matter ble officer who is a foreign trained its numerous islets lend themselves tropical Paradize.
returned from Paris, admirably to a scheme of coast de- Such n secondary base at Haluan of fact, will be puiting into, Cantonese
which submarines and It has been reported, and widely Island has been suggested for a practical form an interest she has Though much of his time is naturally fence in believed, that England and France; collective scheme of defence, the always taken in the Island. It will inken up at Hainan, he has made his smaller surface craft will be exten-
ever since con-
Assively employed, the former especially, are prepared to co-operate with China on the advantage of which for nil three be recalled that
there solidation of her position in Indo-Permanent home in Hongkong.
nison.officer for a tripartite under- China and establishment at Kwang standing, he provides excellent con- become apparent. Anancial side of the scheme. China countries, will immediately
Chow Wan, at the other end of the tacts. With a strongly fortified Hainan, Hainan narrows, France has always already
France is, however, not leaving to Impossible to conceive any further nat only will England be well given innislence to an old agreement aid in this direction except with guarded in the vital link between binding China in no clrcumstances to others the sole defence of her vast dimdenes. Attention is drawn to longkong and Singapore, and an alienate Haloon to any other Power, Far Eastern territory, in area one- the fact that both these foreign, alternative naval base to Hongkong At this juncture It may be re- «nd-a-half times France, but is Powers posrtas ferritories lying near available In the event of hostililles marked that such an Agreement will undertaking a colonial defence pro- or around Hainen.
with an Eastern enemy, but Indo- hold good only as long as China is gramme to an extent unattempted
have to
two
has borrowed so much from these
Powers
that it is
While
Own
The completion towards the end of 'last year of a coastwise rallway con- necting Yunnanfu with the extreme southern region of Indo-China has afforded a strategic means of com- munication to supplement the already large number of military ronds' in- tersoeting every part of the French Colony.:
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11
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ACROSS 1 You must study what follows
to get the result. 8 Here in Wiltshire they are al-
ways ready to buy mares.
rabbits D Gln that catches (two words, 3, 3).
11 Chafes.
no
12 To make this climb, a drink will
be needeti.
13 An Ibsen pluy of literary merit for radio talent, riotously re- ceived (dden).
10 Wear suitable for an English
town.
17 Toy
trousers?
19 Where to get the washing real-
ly dry at lost.
23 Roll. 21 This hand should certainly win, 24 Source of thought to kill. 25 It nearly all indicates a special
type.
28 The ups and downs of youth. 29 In the beginning the law's
wrong--but rezolute,
to secure this 30 Post in inste
flower.
DOWN
..
1 Sounds just right for a cashier's
Buit. 2 Hidden In Clue 13.
3 Pain that does not make the
A. A. cheer, or does it?
4 You will note that the river's
out of line.
Why not? It Isn't
a canal.
& Retire,.ox! (anag).
CROSSWORDS
Polite term for trousers, when It's the lady who wears them. (two words, 8, 5).
7 One of the things that is
"never done."
10 If it's one, it isn't a success. 14 The Scot's identity is disclosed
amid cheers and yells.
13 The ruler in once more, you will
note,
10 Not only a support, but a lock. 20 Are put in an English river. 21 Composed.
22 These animals have some food
nt the bottom of the street, 20 One way to run the nation. 27 Hidden in Clue 13.
Yesterday's Botulion UNMITIGATED M
|0||N|NT TOATE JUNKET"MOOR||X” A
8 PE O NOTICK
1.
:
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