THE COUNTY BADGE SCHEME
Snt,—The letter on the County Badge Scheme signed "Unwin Fleming" and dated from St. Paul's School in your issue of December 4th merits a brief reply.
In the first place I have had a letter from the High Master of St. Paul's School, saying that no one of this name is or has been at the school. In the second place, the writer of the letter is incorrect in stating that athletics are carried to extremes at Gordonstoun. I have taken the trouble to find out the facts, which are as follows: Gordonstoun does not practise the competitive athleticism which marks most English Public Schools, though there is a perfectly justifiable emphasis on all-round physical fitness. Cross-country runs only take place once a week. The daily morning run is only over 40a yards. There is a break of 40 minutes for some form of athletics at ii every morning, and compulsory games are restricted to two afternoons a week.
Thirdly, with regard to the alleged German origin of the County Badge scheme, the scheme grew out of Mr. Hahn's practice at his school at Salem in Germany. That, however, was not anything like the County Badge scheme as seen today; this owed many of its distinctive characteristics to various Englishmen. In addition, Salem itself had been planned and developed in the light of the experience of English education which Hahn had gained when a Rhodes scholar at Oxford.—Yours faith
fully, Juutitt S. HUXLEY. i6 Queen Anne's Gate, London, S.W. r.
Sni,—I have just read Mr. Unwin Fleming's letter about the County Badge Scheme, in your number of December 4th. Having been a member of Gordonstoun School since May, 1939, I can state authoritatively that his statement that "cross-country runs are obligatory for all at least once a day" is untrue. We do them, once a day only when it is too wet for other activities, and only very rarely on the same day as these. In fairness to the school I hope you will print this information.—Yours faith fully, B. C. ALLEN. Frensham Vicarage, Farnham, Surrey.
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