University and Educational Intelligence

Abstract

LONDON.—The Education Committee of the London County Council has approved a grant of 26,140l. per annum to the University for the three years 1917–20. This is an increase of 1460l. over the grant for 1916–17. Increased grants are given to the Evening School of History at University College, 140l.; to Italian, 600l.; to Slavonic languages, 500l.; and to phonetics at University College, 220l. It is proposed to establish a professorshio in Italian, and the Senate is asked to prepare a scheme for the teaching of this language. A chair in Russian is also to be established, and the work will be concentrated at Kings College. The other grants remain unaltered as to amount or purpose, in eluding the block grant of 10,000l. in accordance with the Technical Education Board scheme. Importance is attached by the Senate to the development of phonetics, and it is pointed out that a large phonetic laboratory was fitted out on a lavish scale a few years ago in connection with the Colonial Institute at Hamburg. The higher sub-committee states that, having regard to the increasing importance of a knowledge of modern European languages to those engaged in commerce, and also to the large number of languages spoken in the British Empire, it appears that the provision for the teaching of phonetics in England cannot be regarded as adequate. An increased grant of 220l. for the teaching of phonetics is accordingly sanctioned. The maintenance grant of 300l. per annum is to be continued to Bedford College for the next three years.