Evening star., 1942-02-15
EngIish-Speoking Union
and Post7Wor Effort
BIZ Frederic J. Hdskin.


ward . postwar world, the English
Speaking Union looms as an avenue
through which united people may help
to carry on their activities to sustain
democratic principles. Founded in 1925
as a channel for social and educational
fostering in Great Britain, the United
States and Canada, the organization has
not only successfully carried out its
primary program, but has added greatly
to its intercountry endeavors. Since the
organization has as an aim one Of the
cardinal principles Of the United Ma
tions, that of mutual understanding
through the processes Of education, its
future seems greater than its founders
foresaw.
Its very name-English-Sp
Union-would indicate that its efforts
would be confined to peoples with q
similarity Of tongue. But the union
means more. for its broad program and
high-born principles take in the Ian
guage Of all free peoples and free insti-
tutions that cherish and uphold these
things. Since the union believes in mu-
tual tolerance and justice for all men,
and pledges itself to help protect this
way of life so that men may live in Sc
curity, there is no reason why 1t should
not include democratic peoples every
where. So in time the movement may
become worldwide.
The Eglish-Speaking Union. al
though founded by the English and hav-
ing London as its headquarters, is more
than local organization, for there are
Is chapters in the United States, en-
bracing membership greater than the
membership in the British Isles There,
are more than $4,000 members Of the
union in this country and approximately
1000 members In the land Of the or
ganization's founding.
Perhaps the most constructive part Of
the English-Speaking Union program is
the international work sponsored by its
Committee on Education, which concerns
itself, first, with the exchange Of teach
ers and, second, with travelling scholar
ships. This exchange of American and
British school teachers In secondary
schools has increased in scope since the
union was founded. so much so that
in recent years approximately 80 such
exchanges have been made annually.
American teachers are drawn from one
third Of the States and cover a geo.
graphical area from Massachusetts to
California. British teachers come from
South Wales, Scotland and various
counties in England.
The direct results Of these exchanges
are Of great value to those participating
In them through the challenge Of new
environment and personal contact with
a new educational system. The indirect
results are equally beneficial, as hun
dreds Of school children, their families
and the communities concerned. are
brought into intimate contact with these
specially selected unofncial ambassadors
from another country.
Aside from this exchange Of teachers,
the union administers travelling scholar
ships in honor Of the late Walter Hines
Page, United States Ambassador to
Great Britain during the First World
War. Operation Of this part of the
movements program enables some so
teachers from high schools and COL
leges In Great Britain to spend month
or more in the United States each year,
adding to their educational knowledge
and promoting a better understanding
between the two countries Many indi-
viduals and educational organizations
In the British Isles, Canada and the
United States in recent years have
added funds to increase the number
Of these Page travelling scholarships.
There Is always long waiting list Of
applicants for them, also a waiting list
Of applicants by British ard American
teachers who desire to teach abroad
for q season.
The exchange Of teachers between
the two countries, and the sending OF
British teachers to the United States
under the Page scholarship plan, has
brought to light many contrasts between
the teaching Of certain subjects in the
United States and in the British Isles.
For example. every American school
boy and school girl takes a number Of
courses in British history and Itera.
ture, including the history and litera-
ture Of the very recent past, and every
American college has professors in these
subjects, but few British boys and girls
have heard anything of America since
the War Of Independence. Only two
British universities possess chairs Of
American history, and none has chairs
OF American literature or politics.
Conscious Of the already overcrowded
academic curricula, the union has not
made special effort to equalize this
teaching situation between the two
countries. Rather it has preferred to
concentrate upon establishing personal
links between British and American
colleges and universities, teachers and
students. in the belief that with the
spread Of a f1rst-hand knowledge of
America among British teachers, Amer.
ican studies will come to find their
proper place in the British curriculum.
Bulwarked by this background Of con.
structive and cooperative effort, the
Enelish-Speaking Union is, today, aside
from other work, serving as a link OF
helpfulness and friendship to people
from the United States who are in the
British Isles engaged in some type Of
war service. In London the union owns
and operates Dartmouth House which
not only contains the Offices Of the or.
ganization, but also houses the Englishs
Speaking Club. Dartmouth House con.