Page 227 - Records of Bahrain (5) (ii)_Neat

The progress of state education, 1939-1941 547

09

This brings me to the end of my Report, and on reading it ovor for
tl;e last time I find mysolf wondering whether, in my efforts to give a
faithful account of tho many present weaknesses of Bahrain education
I have lou much neglected tho othor side, and so prosonted your Highness
with loo gloomy a picture of tho wholo. If I havo done this, it lm° been
very far from my intontiou, for it must bo cloar to anyone who goes round
tho schools that a groat deal has alroady boon dono for education in
Bahrain. While I was making my inspection I noted many pleasing
points, made tho acquaintance of many pleasant masters and pupils,
and was most favourably impressed by a number of miuor but by no moans
unimportant features, amongst which £ might porhaps have rnoutiouod tho
cleanliness of tho boys' clothes, the alertness and intelligence of thoir
looks, the neatness of their Arabic handwriting, tho heartiuoss and
tunefulness of thoir siuging, thoir good manuors and courtoous boaring
when spoken to or questioned, their lack of any kind of shyness or fear,
and tho general air of quiet ordor and discipline which prevailed iu all
the classrooms. I have no doubt whatever that boys of this typo oan
bo educated up to a high standard, if ouly thoy can bo kept hoalthy, aad
the right methods aro appliod.

Your Highness was, I think, unfortunate iu tho choico of tho late
controller of education—and upon the controller nearly everything dopouds.
I also feci that thero might huvo bcou a highor degree of success in
Bahrain education if tho teaching-staff had been ablo to take a wider view
of its duties and responsibilities than that which limits thorn to tho inoro
imparting of book-knowledgo in tho olassrooms. If wo cau now supply
Bahrain education with a really capablo, conscientious, and high-minded
controller, willing to adopt the mothoda outlined in this Roport, aud strong
ouough to carry his teaching-stall with him, it should bo woll within his
powors very considerably to raise tho wholo standard of education iu your
Highuess’s State. But, as this Report indioatoa, thoro aro Qrat of all many
adjustments and innovations to bo made, aod quick remits cauuot bo
oxpcctcd. Sovoral years must olapso before tho full beuefit of all tho
proposed changes can possibly be folt, but the improvement, when it
comes, will bo so striking that I am quite suro ovoryouo ooncorned will
agree that any trouble or dislocation involved by tho chaugc-ovor from tho
old order to tho now was woll worth while.
In conclusion, I should like to oxpross to your Iiighuoss my thanks
lor the courtesy, hospitality, and goncrOBity extended to mo iu councotiou
with iuy visit to Bahrain. I should also liko to acknowledge tho
novor-fuiling intorest shown in my work by your Highness’s British Advisor,
aud tho ussistuuco given to mo by him, in order to enable mo to carry it
out effectively.

I havo tho honour to be
Your Highness’s hmnblo aud obediont servant,
C. R. L. ADRIAN-VALLANCE.

^oim.u,|
Iil Bytiwbcr, 1930.