Fred Clarke (educationist)

Sir Frederick Clarke was an English educationist who was Director of the Institute of Education in the University of London between 1936 and 1945.
During the 1930s and 1940s, he was also a strong advocate for educational reform in England and Wales. Clarke was fully involved in the public educational debate at the time and a member of a private group of leading educational thinkers known as 'The Moot'. He is known particularly for his book Education and Social Change: an English interpretation from 1940. Other books include the collection of essays Essays in the Politics of Education and Freedom in the Educative Society.

Early life

Sir Fred Clarke was born on 2 August 1880 at High Cogges, Witney, Oxfordshire, his parents were Mr. & Mrs William Clarke. He moved with his family to Oxford where he attended St. Ebbe's Anglican Boys' School which was a monitorial school and where he was selected to be one of the pupil-teachers.
Sir Fred Clarke obtained a first-class in the Queen's Scholarship which entitled him to subsidised attendance at the Oxford University Day Training Teaching College at St. Catherine's Society for poor scholars who provisioned their own lodgings. In order to obtain a degree he also studied history in addition to his studies for a Teaching Certificate and hence graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with first-class honours for his four-year degree course.

Personal life

Sir Fred Clark married Edith Annie Gilliams in 1907. He had two daughters: Anna Clarke and Claudia Clarke.

Career

The major highlights of Fred Clarke's career as an educationist were: -

Senior Master of Method at York Diocesan Training College, 1903-1906
Professor of Education at Hartley University College, Southampton, 1906-1911
Professor of Education at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, from 1911 to 1918
Dean of Faculty of Education, at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, 1918-1929
Professor of Education at McGill University, Montreal in Canada from 1929 to 1934
World Tour of Western Canada, Australia and New Zealand sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation 1935
Adviser to Overseas Students at the Institute of Education in the University of London 1935
Third Director of the Institute of Education in the University of London between 1936 and 1945 when retired
In retirement, reverted to being Adviser to Overseas Students at the Institute of Education in the University of London

Public service

Committee evidence

Clarke contributed to the Spens Report with a memorandum on influences affecting secondary curricula in the dominions where he expounded his understanding based both on his time as professor of education in both Canada & South Africa, his world tour of 1935 and time advising overseas students. Clarke also gave evidence to the Norwood committee.

McNair committee

Prior to the Education Act of 1944 (known as the Butler Act), when the Board of Education was still in operation, Clarke served on the McNair committee under the chairmanship of Sir Arnold McNair to consider the supply, recruitment and training of teachers and youth leaders. Controversially, the committee split on the key recommendations regarding the ideal organisation for training teachers, whereby Clarke and half the committee supported Universities providing teacher training whereas the chair and the other half of the committee supported a continued role for teacher training colleges. Clarke's argument for universities hinged on the synergy between university research into pedagogy and the training of teachers so research was improved and teacher training was always abreast of the latest ideas. The counter argument for training colleges, especially those attached to schools was that training was more practical and hands-on.

Central advisory council for education (England)

After the Education Act of 1944 brought the Ministry of Education into force, Fred Clarke was appointed as the first chairman of the Central Advisory Council for Education (England), where he played a role guiding post-war education policy for the new Ministry. During his tenure, two inquiries were carried out and with the resulting reports known as the Clarke Reports: -

School and Life
Out of School

The Clarke Report 1948 recommended an expansion of municipal facilities for children which most people today have enjoyed during their childhood, including: - libraries encouraging children by stocking children's books and later innovations like reading corners, playgrounds with equipment such as slides, swings and roundabouts, public swimming pools and sports playing fields.

Other public service roles

Clarke also undertook numerous advisory and committee roles with, for example the National Union of Teachers, the British Council and the establishment of the National Foundation for Educational Research.

Published works

Books

1909 - A School History of Hampshire
1923 - Essays in the Politics of Education
1929 - The foundations of history teaching, a critique for teachers
1940 - Education and Social Change: An English Interpretation
1948 - Freedom in the Educative Society

Journals

Sir Fred Clarke was a prolific writer of articles in educational journals, mainly aimed at professional readers on topics such as the training of teachers, the history of education, critiques of educational theories, and opinions on government policies towards education: -
The Educational News, Cape Town, South Africa

1911 - A Word on Training
1911 - School and Training College
1912 - The Evolution of Educational Theory
1912 - An Possit Praecepto Salvus Esse!
1912 - The History of Education - 'Cui Bono'!
1912 - Montessoriana
1913 - The Russell. Memorandum
1914 - From Locke to Montessori
1914 - The Syndicalist in Education
1915 - The 'History' Question
1915 - The School of Shakespeare's Day
1915 - Educational Outlook
1916 - Letter; "What is a Teacher?"
1916 - Letter; "Matriculation under the New University Scheme"
1916 - Education and Labour
1919 - Presidential Address
1919 - Training of Teachers -· Departments Proposals
1920 - The Salaries Commission
1920 - Professional Status of the Teacher
1920 - Presidential Address
1921 - Letter; "Greetings and Prophecies
1923 - Education and Society
1923 - Letter; Reply to Mr. Earle of Rhodes University, re. Teachers' Higher Diploma of the University of South Africa
1925 - The Imperial Mind
1925 - An Introduction to Psychology
1926 - Secondary School Courses
1926 - History in the Primary School
1927 - Impressions of the Imperial Education Conference
1928 - The Question of Medium
1928 - Letter; "Conference and the Training of Teachers"
1928 - The Philosophical Bases of Education
1928 - Educational Psychology
1928 - Seen from the Threshold
1929 - Valedictory Letter to Conference

The Hibbert Journal; A Quarterly Review of Religion, Theology and Philosophy

1927 - An Elementary-Secondary School
1928 - English Mind and Dominion Mind
1929 - Education and the New English
1930 - Community; - An Estimate of the vital Principle of English Education
1932 - The Mature Significance of 'New' Countries

The Teachers' Magazine, Quebec, Montreal, P.Q.

1930 - Some First Impressions
1930 - Notes on Education in the province of Quebec
1930 - Training the High School Teacher: Developments and Possibilities in Quebec
1932 - A Graduate Year of Training for High School Teachers
1933 - Saving Democracy
1935 - Retrospect
1936 - The State Master or Servant

The New Era

1927 - New Education in Africa
1931 - British Commonwealth - Disintegration or Mutual Understanding
1932 - The Key to To-morrow-I, The Reconstruction of Discipline
1934 - The New Countries in Education
1936 - The State: Master or Servant
1940 - Now and Tomorrow: Planned Freedom
1941 - A Note on the Exploratory Years
1942 - Cultural Aspects of Vocational Education

Collections

University College London's Institute of Education holds Clarke's archive, donated by his daughter Claudia. The collection includes documents relating to his work and career, personal material, and correspondence.