AN INVITATION TO BRITISH SCHOOLBOYS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sra,—Readers will doubtless be interested in an invitation which has come from an American school to British schoolboys.
Tabor Academy,' at Marion, on the Massachusetts coast of Buzzard's Bay, a fine old institution, has offered to receive two British boys, aged sixteen or seventeen, for its summer course of seven week's, beginning about July 12th, 1928. The boys would be the guests of the Academy, there enjoying tuition and living accommodation, for which their American schoolmates would be paying £70 ( $850). This covers " all necessary expenses," including laundry and cruising.
Instruction is offered in English, Latin, mathematics, history and French, by a competent staff of seven masters, representing five of the best New England colleges. Normally the boy takes not more than two subjects, so that he has the advantage of continuous tutoring in whatever he needs the most. All the students are housed in the attractive new residence hall located on the shore of the harbour. Mornings, after chapel, and evenings are devoted to intensive study. Afternoons are given over to sports, particularly those pertaining to the seashore, though golf, tennis, and baseball are also popular. Short cruises to Nantucket, Block Island and Newport, and other near-by harbours vary the academic programme and make week-ends spent aboard the ' Tabor Boy ' fascinating and valuable experience. The student, incidentally, learns much of the technique and particularly the discipline of life aboard a schooner, as well as in small sailing skiffs. The most careful supervision ensures safety, but, naturally, sea training is not compulsory, and, if the Parent prefers other provision for the time, it may be arranged for any boy.
Last summer two German boys, both sons of Cabinet Ministers, accepted a similar invitation, to the great satis- faction of the boys, their families, and the school. If English parents contemplated a visit to the United States next summer, this would, of course, be an extraordinary opportunity, but satisfactory arrangements could be made for boys who make the voyage unaccompanied. The school does not pay the expenses of the voyage, or the boy's clothing.
The school insists that only the highest type of boy be recommended to it—fine types of British youth, with sufficient adaptability to enable them to conform to American conditions. As there will doubtless be many parents interested, it is suggested that approach for further information or definite application be made to the American University Union, 50 Russell Square, London, W.C.1, by correspondence ; afterwards, if expedient, interviews may be arranged with the Director of the Union.—I am, Sir, &c.,
DixoN RYAN Fox,
Director.
[We print this letter with especial pleasure, and we hope that the generous offer contained in it will be accepted by two British boys—worthy representatives of their country. We make no apology for harping on the importance of personal contact in international relations. We look forward to the day when every American school will have its quota of visiting British schoolboys, and every British school its quota of visiting American schoolboys. But these exchange visits should not be confined to the male sex nor to students. There should be exchange teacherships and professorships in all our schools and seats of learning. A few public-spirited persons like Mr. Edward S. Harkness, Mrs. H. P. Davidson, and others have shown the way—let us hope that their splendid example will be followed.—En. Spectator.]
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