" FORMATION COLLEGES "
SIR,—After reading Anthony Hawthorn's article on "Formation Colleges " in The Spectator of May 24th, I was again disturbed by the rather extrava- gant claims periodically made concerning the organisation and development of Army education—an unfortunate aspect (dealt with more fully in Nature, of November 3rd, 1945) of what might.qtherwise be considered to be the most outstanding and most successful—eiperiment in modern adult education. The main part of the article is a good descriptive account of the comparatively new Army Formation Colleges, the foundation of which is a matter of congratulation for the authorities concerned, but I would direct the attention of its readers to the following sentence : "In short, a Formation College is a university, a training college, a technical college, a commercial school, an art school and a workshop rolled into one, and it is a moving experience to see men who have served in the fiercest campaigns adjusting themselves, uneasily at first, to the needs of civilian life." If the first part of the sentence (ending at the word "one ") is to be treated
metaphorically, then it is meaningless; but if it is to be accepted literally, then it is mischievous. Educationists and men of science would agree that such an institution visualised here is impossible of achievement, and even if it were possible then it would be undesirable. In any event, the Army is not the place for an institution of university rank; the Army does not possess the personnel to organise and run such an institution, and it is to be hoped that the Army will never contemplate such a development within its ranks. The second part of the sentence reflects what ought to be the function of the new Formation Colleges. I believe this is what the Army education authorities reallf do intend; and this being so, it is a pity that additional but misleading claims are allowed to be made. For such statements can only succeed in the long run in bringing ridicule on the whole admirable organisation of Army education.—Yours, &c., L. J. F. BRIMBLE. Savage Club, Carlton House Terrace, S.W.i.
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