Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-19
EDUCATION N INDIA
Discussed in Lord Curzon's
Last Address as Viceroy.
Special osblesram to The Star.

Special Cabiegram to The Star
CALCUTTA, November 1s.-It is both in
teresting and significant that Lord Curzon
should practically close his career here In
India in an official sort of fashion with an
address on education. It is true that IN
social way Lord CurzoR and his wife stu
remain supreme during the visit of the
Prince and Princess of Wales. And ON
matters political it may be expected that
he will still have great deal to say upon
the military propositions advocated by Lord
Kitchener But In the field of the real rou-
tine of government Lord CurZon's address
upon the subject of education viii always
be regarded as his last and perhaps his
ablest appeal in behalf of the people OF
India.
Lord Curzon In his speech on the Indian
budget last March promised that year
later he would take the same opportunity
to pass In review the whole of his admin
istration of India during viceroyalty ex-
ceeding in length any since that OF LORD
Dalhousfe Unfortunately subsequent events
have rendered impossible the fuiflHment OF
the promise in the form intended, and nave
deprived the public of a statement whiSh
in the viceroy's hands would have been a
mastery exposition of the case which ne
would wish to submit to the judgment or
the present, and still more to that of an
other generation which must pass the nnal
verdict. He has, however found an oppor-
tunity to state his case for part and that,
perhaps, the least controversial part OF his
administration. His speech at the CONFER
ence of directors of public instruction at
Simia is complete review of the educa-
ttonal policy of the government OF lndla
during the last four years-a policy which
has no doubt excited some controversy over
details. and some angry feelings, but which
on the whole has met with the approval OF
-f,D sd xx> u sr Iadi
Viceroy's Course
When the viceroy landed IN India, at the
end of 1898, he had more personal acquaint-
ance with the country than had been pos
sessed at first by the majority of his pre-
decessors. He had marked down as one of
bis most important duties that OF grap-'
ping with the question of education. But
he was in no hurry to put forward a hasty.
ill-considered OF badlyinformed scheme of
reform, and 1t was not till he had been in
office for more than half the period of most
viceroyalties that he considered the ques-
ton even ripe enough for the summoning
of the conference of experts which met in
Simla in September, 1901 In his address
to that conference he still posed as an in
quirer in many matters, though two years
of study had enabled the government OF
India to diagnose most of the symptoms
of the malady and to indicate the probable
a half years before the scheme of reform
was fully worked out and embodied in the
resolution of March, 1904
A Million for Education.
AS with every other reform money was
at the bottom OF the difficulty, and that,
fortunately. has been forthcoming In the re-
cent fat years. The last budget provided
permanent annual grant of over 81, 100, 900
to substitute and encourag e the efforts of To-
ton, the teaching of their own vernaculars
to the masses. and their training in the d.
rections necessary to enable them to make
the best of the simple life which falls to
the lot Of the great majority. The &C
auirement Of knowledge of English is not
one of their necessities, and henceforth It
will form no part In primary education
There is plenty to spend the money on, and
the sum just stated represents less than
half the recurring grants already made.
Better buildings are required, better pay
for the teachers and training schools in
which they may be taught the art of edu-
cation. Better text books primers more
suited to the simple requirements of the
agricultural population, will be substituted
for many of those now used.
With secondary education the case. is
similar, and the viceroy finds 1t necessary
to convey warning against the possible
tendency TO neglect this important branch.
To quote Lord Curzon's words secondary
education is 'the basis of all industrial or
professional occupation in India" 1t al
most sounds as If he felt some qualns as
to whether he has not himself, to some
slight extent, fallen into the error of Civ
ing too much attention to the extremitfes
OF the chain while neglecting the center.