Welsh Journals

Scout Movement-following here another great Welshman, Lord Baden Powell; and to-day, thanks largely to Mr. Rheinallt Jones's wise leadership, the leaders of the white Boy Scouts and of the dark-skinned "Pathfinders" co- operate, with results mutually helpful. He is, moreover, the Director of the South African In- stitute of Race Relations; and it came as a sur- prise to no one who knew of his work when he was recently awarded an honorary degree for his contributions to educational and social progress in Africa. The second Welshman to whom reference is made in this article is, curiously,-in spite of his influence on African life and education-a man who has never resided permanently in Africa. A native of Anglesey, who left Wales a monoglot lad of eleven, and subsequently received his secondary and higher education in the States, Dr. T. Jesse Jones (widely known through his book "The Four Essentials of Education") has an enviable reputation as a writer on Negro Educa- tion in America and in Africa. In the latter con- tinent, he is held in high esteem for his contribu- tions to African education in the two reports of the Phelps-Stokes Commission on education in Africa. He presided over this Commission on its visits of inspection through the Continent, and the Commission reports form a mine of informa- tion for students of African education. Its sug- gestions and recommendations, like all human findings, lay no claim to infallibilty but the dis- cussions to which they have given rise are them- selves helpful. Like all creative discussions, they embody the truth of the remark that "it is in the conflict of opin'on that the spark of truth is kindled." During his travels through the continent Dr. Jones has won the confidence and respect of Europeans and Africans. During sub- sequent visits that esteem has been heightened. In the current blue book report of the proceed- ings of the "Bunga" (the Hansard of the Trans- keian Territories Native Parliament) there is a notable tribute to the services rendered by Dr. Jesse Jones and the chief magistrate, endorsing this homage very cordially, reminded the mem- bers that Dr. Jones had been honoured in various lands for his services to education. It will per- haps interest readers of The Welsh Outlook to learn that the Greek Government has officially recognised his services to education in Greece. His influence on African education is at the moment deep and pervasive; and the fact that his suggestions are not received uncritically will heighten rather than otherwise the ultimate value of his contribution to African education. Al- though he has never lived permanently in Africa, his influence here is strongly marked. The case of the third Welshman who is influ- encing Africa is in one respect the strangest of all the three. Mr. J. D. Rheinallt Jones, as was noted above, has lived for many years in Africa, and still lives there. While Dr. Jesse Jones has never permanently resided here, he has spent a considerable time in Africa on various occasions. But the third Welshman to whom we refer is one who, although he travelled in European lands, never set foot in Africa. Yet his influence on the theory and practice of African education is already clearly perceptible, and appears to be definitely increasing. He was a man whose death was mourned in Wales four years ago but "although dead, he yet speaketh." The name of David J. Saer is to-day better known in Africa, in India, and elsewhere, than it ever was: references to his researches appear in learned works and periodicals in various quarters of the globe. His name has always been well- known to readers of The Welsh Outlook. For The Welsh Outlook-in common with the Man- chester Guardian, The British Journal of Psychol- ogy and the Journal of Experimental Pedagogy- gave the hospitality of its columns to the un- popular and unpalatable truths which Saer's in- vestigations revealed. Happily his work did not lack recognition even during his lifetime. Dr. Gwenan Jones has well described in "Yr Efrydydd" the homage paid to his pioneer re- search by scholars of various lands assembled in Luxemburg for the First International Confer- ence on Bilingualism. To-day, educationalists in Africa are paying increasing heed to his coun- sels in the sphere of bilingual psychology and pedagogy. The tendency almost everywhere is to postpone the formal study of the second language till the age of nine, as Saer advised. To his influence in African education the latest witness to bear testimony is Professor Julian Huxley in his fascinating volume "Africa View." In the first volume of "Oversea Education" the periodical published by the Advisory Committee (on Education) of the British Colonial Office, Mr. I. D. Clarke, Superintendent of Education in Nigeria, pays similar tribute. The Zeitschrift des Internationalen Instituts fur Afrikanische Sprachen und Kulturen has also given promin- ence to this Welsh scholar's influence on African Education. In this plastic, formative period in the history of this vast continent of marvellous possibilities, it is good to know that Welsh influences are be- ing helpfully exercised in the all-important field of educational and social service. Education, say Julian Huxley and J. H. Oldham, is to be regarded as the main concern of government in Africa to-day. Africa, says Smuts, is one of the major problems of the twentieth century.