C. E. Beeby
Encyclopedia
Clarence Edward Beeby ONZ
CMG
(16 June 1902 – 10 March 1998), most commonly referred to as C.E. Beeby or simply Beeb, was a New Zealand
educationalist, "described as the architect of our modern education system"http://wysiwygnews.com/1998_News/1998March14.html. Beeby's educational ethos is best summarised as "every person regardless of background or ability had a right to an education of a type for which they were best suited".
Beeby had an enormous influence of the development of the education
system in New Zealand, first as a director of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NCER) from 1936, and then as Director of Education (head of the Ministry of Education) from 1940, initially under the First Labour Government
. He also served as ambassador to France
and on the UNESCO
executive. He was honoured with a CMG
in 1956, and was a foundation member of the Order of New Zealand
. He received honorary doctorates from the University of Canterbury
, University of Otago
, and Victoria University of Wellington
.
Beeby's son was the distinguished New Zealand diplomat and international lawyer, Chris Beeby.
, Leeds
, Yorkshire
, and emigrated with his family to New Zealand in 1906. He was educated at New Brighton School and Christchurch Boys High School, and initially studied law at Canterbury College
, before switching to Christchurch Training College
to study primary teaching. Beeby gained an MA in 1924, and had been working as a part-time lecturer during the latter part of his studies. He worked for a PhD at Victoria University of Manchester
, under the tutelage of Charles Spearman
. Spearman's belief in a strong hereditary component to intelligence was to influence Beeby's later educational beliefs. Beeby was not fond of his given names, and elected from an early age to be known by his surname.
.
After leaving the Ministry of Education, he served as Ambassador to France from 1960 to 1963, and also was assistant director-general for UNESCO
. Following the end of this term, he held positions at Harvard University
and the Institute of Education
University of London
. In 1968 he returned to New Zealand, and continued to play an active role as researcher and consultant in both New Zealand and overseas.
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(16 June 1902 – 10 March 1998), most commonly referred to as C.E. Beeby or simply Beeb, was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
educationalist, "described as the architect of our modern education system"http://wysiwygnews.com/1998_News/1998March14.html. Beeby's educational ethos is best summarised as "every person regardless of background or ability had a right to an education of a type for which they were best suited".
Beeby had an enormous influence of the development of the education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
system in New Zealand, first as a director of the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NCER) from 1936, and then as Director of Education (head of the Ministry of Education) from 1940, initially under the First Labour Government
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. He also served as ambassador to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and on the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
executive. He was honoured with a CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1956, and was a foundation member of the Order of New Zealand
Order of New Zealand
The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in New Zealand's honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity"...
. He received honorary doctorates from the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, and Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
.
Beeby's son was the distinguished New Zealand diplomat and international lawyer, Chris Beeby.
Early life and education
Beeby was born in MeanwoodMeanwood
Meanwood is a suburb and former village of north-west Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.-Origins and History:The name Meanwood goes back to the 12th century, and is of Anglo-Saxon derivation: the Meene wude was the boundary wood of the Manor of Alreton, the woods to the east of Meanwood Beck...
, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, and emigrated with his family to New Zealand in 1906. He was educated at New Brighton School and Christchurch Boys High School, and initially studied law at Canterbury College
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, before switching to Christchurch Training College
Christchurch College of Education
Christchurch College of Education was a college of education founded in 1873 located in Christchurch, New Zealand until it was amalgamated with the University of Canterbury and formed a new Faculty of Education with the university’s School of Education. It houses the Henry Field Library....
to study primary teaching. Beeby gained an MA in 1924, and had been working as a part-time lecturer during the latter part of his studies. He worked for a PhD at Victoria University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
, under the tutelage of Charles Spearman
Charles Spearman
Charles Edward Spearman, FRS was an English psychologist known for work in statistics, as a pioneer of factor analysis, and for Spearman's rank correlation coefficient...
. Spearman's belief in a strong hereditary component to intelligence was to influence Beeby's later educational beliefs. Beeby was not fond of his given names, and elected from an early age to be known by his surname.
Career
On returning from England, Beeby worked as a lecturer and then acting professor at Canterbury College, before taking up the position of director of NZCER. During this time, he developed a belief that all students had a right to continuing education, not just the most academically gifted. During this period, Beeby was noticed by Peter Fraser (New Zealand politician), the Minister of Education, and in 1939 was appointed Assistant Director of Education. Beeby became Director of Education just prior to Fraser's ascension to Prime MinisterPrime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
.
After leaving the Ministry of Education, he served as Ambassador to France from 1960 to 1963, and also was assistant director-general for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. Following the end of this term, he held positions at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and the Institute of Education
Institute of Education
The Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. In 1968 he returned to New Zealand, and continued to play an active role as researcher and consultant in both New Zealand and overseas.