THE EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE AT LOCARNO
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—May I call your attention to the work of the New Education fellowship, which recently held its fourth inter- national conference at Loearno ? The fellowship is a purely- educational organization. It exists solely in the interests of the child, with whom it is concerned both as a child and as the- citizen of to-morrow. It believes that only by a • change of attitude towards life can -world peace and international brother. hood be achieved, and that an education which releases the creative activity of the child is the sole means by which this- change can be brought about. Its scope, therefore, is world- wide ; it transcends all limitations of race,. nation, religion or creed, and seeks to bring together and to weld for united action progressive educational thought from all parts of. the. world. At Locarno it gathered nearly 1,200 representatives from 43 countries.
It has two bureaux, in England and Germany, which collect and disseminate knowledge, arrange for correspondence and visits between members, for teachers and students to traveland to spend time in the schools of other countries and for lectaterd on various aspects of new education. It works with the BureaU International d'Education at Geneva. It publishes three magazines, in English, French and German, and magazines in twelve other countries, mainly European but including Inclia and Brazil, are affiliated and serve as means of communication: It has in London a lending library representative of all branches of progressive thought. . It is now preparing for fresh work. A bureau of international research is to be. established in London, with •a. permanent expert in charge who will analyse the results of experimental work in education all over the world, and publish authoritative manuals. An international lecturer is to be appointed. Short courses for teachers are to be started, and more exchange of teachers between countries is to be arranged: Bureaux for the giving of advice on the psychological side of the treatment of children are to be founded ; these bureaux will answer inquiries and publish simple pamphlets for the guidance of young parents.
The Fellowship has the support of noted psychologists such as Dr. Alfred Adler, Dr. Ovide Decroly and Dr. Claparede: An English section is to be founded this autumn, and among other's who have promked to help are Dr. C. W. Kimmins; Mr. E. Salter Davis, Director of Education for Kent, and Miss Mackinder, of Chelsea, whose work in the infant schools has obtained such wide recognition. The headquarters of the Fellowship are at 11 Tavistock Square, W.C.1.—I am, Sir, &c.,
42 Cromwell Road,- Hove, Susse.w. - - H. - C. DENT. •
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