The Royal Air Force School of Education

Abstract

A NEW Royal Air Force School of Education has been opened at Wellesbourne Mountford, near Leamington Spa, and one of its main purposes is to prepare newly appointed education officers for their professional duties in the R.A.F. The School is housed for the present in temporary accommodation because in view of the nature and the importance of the work a start could not be delayed. It is intended, however, to move the School to a more permanent location when this is feasible. Education in the R.A.F. differs little in its background from education in the civilian world. Its immediate purpose is to develop those qualities of mind and character which, while adapting the officer, the airman or the boy apprentice to the exercise of particular duties, yet helps him to achieve a worthwhile personal and social life and to appreciate the duties and privileges of citizenship. On the technical side, too, it is the task of the Education Branch to contribute a theoretical content towards technical and air-crew training of R.A.F. personnel for their day-to-day duties. Naturally the means and conditions through which these tasks are performed in the Service so far differ from those outside as to involve the young education officer in a period of some difficulty until he finds his feet. It is a function of this new school of education to minimize this period, and to orientate the professional qualifications and experience of the newly appointed officer (normally a university graduate and a trained teacher, and preferably with some initial teaching experience) towards his new duties. To this end he is given instruction over a period of four weeks in the organisation and administration of R.A.F. education, in certain aspects of the theory and practice of Service teaching, in the part played by education in maintaining high standards of training and of morale, and in the methods to be employed for education in citizenship and current affairs. In addition to the lectures given by the permanent staff provision is made in the School programme for visiting lecturers of eminence in the civilian world.