'Education'
in the broad sense is the drawing out of the individual's personality and
intellectual ability, and travel has always been considered an important part
of this process. Yet, the functions assigned to travel as part of education
have varied curiously. Before modern times, the greatest travelers were the
Dutch, the onwards, the motives behind travel were exploration, military
conquest leading to ownership of foreign territories, trade and commerce, and
diplomacy. Clive of India, Sir Stamford Raffles of Singapore, are among the
great names associated with the old-fashioned object of travel -- colonization
and, in the opinion of some people, 'exploitation'. So far from learning about
their travels, which, in a sense, they were bound to do, whether they liked it
or not, early travelers considered themselves teachers -- of an outlook, a
religion, and a way of life, which they assumed was superior to what they
found, just because in certain respects, it was more materially advanced. The
early travelers were explorers, 'empire-builders' and adventurers, despite the
incidental benefits they were able to confer on undeveloped countries.
Countries which bred travelers believed quite firmly that foreigners were
'lesser breeds without the law', and that the only justification for travel was
national or personal gain. The object was to make money abroad, then come home
and live 'as gentleman'. Typical of this spirit was the 'remittance man' -- the
'black sheep' of the family who was paid to live overseas.
"Deportation" -- was the sentence imposed in 19th century Britain as
an alternative to execution for certain serious crimes. Botany bay in Australia
was peopled by such criminals. An important factor in the early days was time;
travel, by sailing-ship or 'safari' meant months to an from a destination.
Going overseas meant being away a long time - perhaps for good. European travel
was the exception, and here, we look at a new consideration, that of 'culture';
Italy and Greece are living reflections of ancient classical lore. The
'educated' young man, rich and sophisticated, was not considered completely
'finished', until his classical education had culminated in a 'Grand Tour' of
Europe. During this period, he used the languages learned in the schoolroom,
and saw for himself the places which had figured so prominently in his earlier
studies. with this new background, he became fit for the Army and Navy, or the
Colonial and Diplomatic Services. But, he always 'looked down' on the foreigner
-- even the European -- as a second-rate person.
The theory of travel in the modern age is
totally different, and this is because the attitude of the older countries to
foreigners had undergone ad radical change in the last 50 years. As nations
draw closer to one another, and we all progress to the ultimate goal of a
world-community, we tend to look upon all men as of equal value, and we are prepared
to learn from them all, however undeveloped their way of life may be. Today,
every intelligent person regards travel as an intellectual venture, and goes
abroad prepared to learn rather than teach. Not only his means of getting
abroad, but also his occasions of wishing to go abroad have undergone radical
change within recent years.
Today, distance means little in terms of time.
The European executive will soon be able to make the return journey to the USA
within the day; already the Singapore businessman can reach England within 18
hours. The jet plane, the fast car, the ship, and the railway have made travel
for diplomatic, business or military reasons virtually an immediate thing.
Travel is, of course expensive but is much easier if the government or the firm
pays the bill. But all the same, it is far from being limited to the rich, or
to officials. Today, travel is a function spread throughout the community. Paid
holidays help the worker to travel beyond his own country. Perhaps the most
important change is that, nowadays, people at every level of the community are
meeting overseas. This tends to spread an international outlook and makes for
world peace. It result sin a certain amount of resettlement and admixture of
populations, which has actual benefit from the education point of view.
Nowadays, few travel primarily to gain
education, but education, though incidental, is the inevitable result. Travel
teaches climatic conditions, racial customs, religions languages and the social
and political outlooks of other nationalities. It helps in racial and national
understanding through exchange of ideas; it provides interesting conversation.
Inevitable certainly when the mind is tuned and receptive, but not so to the
dull and narrow person, who gains to benefit wherever he goes, and therefore
might as well stay at home.
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