Philip John Hartog
Encyclopedia
Sir Philip Joseph Hartog, KBE, CIE, (2 March 1864 - 27 June 1947) was a British educationist undertaking the role in England and in India.
Philip Joseph Hartog was born in London on March 2, 1864, the third son of Alfonse Hartog, and the younger brother of Numa
and Marcus Hartog
. He was educated at University College School
, the Universities of Paris
and Heidelberg, and the Collège de France
. In 1889 he went to Owens College, Manchester, as Bishop Berkeley Scholar. He wrote a history and description of the college, and both there and at Victoria University he was an assistant lecturer in chemistry. It seemed at that time that this branch of science would claim him.
At Manchester, however, he was being drawn to university administration. He was secretary to the Victoria University Extension Scheme, a member of the Court, and in 1902-3 secretary to the Alfred Mosely Commission of Educational Inquiry. In the latter year he was appointed Academic Registrar to the University of London
, and held that office with great efficiency for 17 years. In 1907 came his influential "Writing of English" —attacking the school "essay." An outstanding service to the University, the Empire, and the Easter world in general was his large share in the creation in the middle of the 1914-18 war of the School of Oriental Studies, to which the name "African" was added later. His keen and helpful interest was maintained until his last working days.
Hartog was a member of the commission under the late Sir Michael Sadler on Calcutta University which was appointed in 1917 and issued a voluminous report in 1919. Far-reaching reforms in most of the Indian universities followed, and Calcutta was shorn of a part of its vast jurisdiction by the creation in 1920 of University of Dhaka
as a residential teaching foundation. Most fittingly, Hartog was made its first vice-chancellor and imbued the new foundation with a fine tradition —long needed by the Muslims of eastern Bengal— of scholarship and public service. Both at Dhaka and later in their Kensington home he had the cooperation of the gifted and hospitable lady he married in 1915, and who bore him three sons —Mabel Hélène, daughter of Mr. H. J. Kisch.
On the creation of the Indian Public Service Commission in 1926 Hartog was appointed a member, and served until permitted to retire on family grounds in 1930. When the Indian Statutory Commission was set up in 1928 under Sir John (later Lord) Simon
, Hartog was appointed chairman of the Auxiliary Committee on Education. The report greatly assisted the presentation of facts and conclusions by the main body, and is the most authoritative survey of the subject of our time. Hartog received the honours of the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
and Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire
in the year of his retirement in reward for his services.
On settling in London Hartog devoted much time and thought tho the place of examinations in the education system. As early as 1911, and again in 1918, he had written treatises on examinations in their bearing on national efficiency and on culture and general efficiency. He was the dominant figure in an inquiry on an international scale undertaken in 1932. This resulted in the issue in 1935 of "An Examination of Examinations." In this exposure of haphazard methods and plans for reform he had the collaboration of Dr. E. C. Rhodes and also, in a subsequent book, "The Marks of Examiners," of Dr. Rhodes and of Mr. Cyril Burt. Deeply impressed by his experience of the need for systematic education research, he obtained from the Leverhulme Trust
in 1940 a great of £2,000 to the University of London Institute of Education
for this purpose. The organization thereby set up was renamed in 1945 the National Foundation for Educational Research
in England and Wales, and in 1947 it applied for a royal charter. Hartog was also the prime mover in the setting up by the Ministry of Labour and National Service before the outbreak of war in 1939 of a Linguistic Committee of the Appointments Registry, and he was its first chairman. In 1933 Hartog wrote, under the authority of the London Institute of Education his valuable study, "Some Aspects of Indian Education, Past and Present." He continued his activities well into his ninth decade, and one of the last of his books, "Words in Action," was published in 1945.
Amid all these labours Hartog was through life a keen helper of his own community. At the end of 1933 he went to Palestine as chairman of the Committee of Inquiry on the organization of the Hebrew University, and subsequently he was president of the Friends in Britain of the university. He did much other work for the Jewish People.
In his obituary it states, "Few educationists still working as did in octogenarian years could look back on so varied, strenuous, and fruitful a career as his. He left an enduring mark on educational thought and practice, not only in India but in this county and the Dominions." Sir Philip Hartog, died at a nursing home in London at the age of 83.
Philip Joseph Hartog was born in London on March 2, 1864, the third son of Alfonse Hartog, and the younger brother of Numa
Numa Edward Hartog
Numa Edward Hartog was the brother of Marcus Hartog and Philip Hartog. Although he died young, he is notable for having been the first Jewish Senior Wrangler at Cambridge University, in 1869. He also won 2nd Smith's Prize in that year.In his earlier academic career, he attended University...
and Marcus Hartog
Marcus Hartog
Marcus Manuel Hartog was an English natural historian and educator in Cork, Ireland. He contributed to multiple volumes of the Cambridge Natural History....
. He was educated at University College School
University College School
University College School, generally known as UCS, is an Independent school charity situated in Hampstead, north west London, England. The school was founded in 1830 by University College London and inherited many of that institution's progressive and secular views...
, the Universities of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
and Heidelberg, and the Collège de France
Collège de France
The Collège de France is a higher education and research establishment located in Paris, France, in the 5th arrondissement, or Latin Quarter, across the street from the historical campus of La Sorbonne at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue des Écoles...
. In 1889 he went to Owens College, Manchester, as Bishop Berkeley Scholar. He wrote a history and description of the college, and both there and at Victoria University he was an assistant lecturer in chemistry. It seemed at that time that this branch of science would claim him.
At Manchester, however, he was being drawn to university administration. He was secretary to the Victoria University Extension Scheme, a member of the Court, and in 1902-3 secretary to the Alfred Mosely Commission of Educational Inquiry. In the latter year he was appointed Academic Registrar to the 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...
, and held that office with great efficiency for 17 years. In 1907 came his influential "Writing of English" —attacking the school "essay." An outstanding service to the University, the Empire, and the Easter world in general was his large share in the creation in the middle of the 1914-18 war of the School of Oriental Studies, to which the name "African" was added later. His keen and helpful interest was maintained until his last working days.
Hartog was a member of the commission under the late Sir Michael Sadler on Calcutta University which was appointed in 1917 and issued a voluminous report in 1919. Far-reaching reforms in most of the Indian universities followed, and Calcutta was shorn of a part of its vast jurisdiction by the creation in 1920 of University of Dhaka
University of Dhaka
The University of Dhaka is the oldest university in Bangladesh. It is a multi-disciplinary research university and is among the top universities in the region. Established on July 21, 1921, as per the Government of India Act, 1920, it was modelled on the Universities in England and soon gained...
as a residential teaching foundation. Most fittingly, Hartog was made its first vice-chancellor and imbued the new foundation with a fine tradition —long needed by the Muslims of eastern Bengal— of scholarship and public service. Both at Dhaka and later in their Kensington home he had the cooperation of the gifted and hospitable lady he married in 1915, and who bore him three sons —Mabel Hélène, daughter of Mr. H. J. Kisch.
On the creation of the Indian Public Service Commission in 1926 Hartog was appointed a member, and served until permitted to retire on family grounds in 1930. When the Indian Statutory Commission was set up in 1928 under Sir John (later Lord) Simon
John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon
John Allsebrook Simon, 1st Viscount Simon GCSI GCVO OBE PC was a British politician who held senior Cabinet posts from the beginning of the First World War to the end of the Second. He is one of only three people to have served as Home Secretary, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor of the Exchequer,...
, Hartog was appointed chairman of the Auxiliary Committee on Education. The report greatly assisted the presentation of facts and conclusions by the main body, and is the most authoritative survey of the subject of our time. Hartog received the honours of the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
and Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
in the year of his retirement in reward for his services.
On settling in London Hartog devoted much time and thought tho the place of examinations in the education system. As early as 1911, and again in 1918, he had written treatises on examinations in their bearing on national efficiency and on culture and general efficiency. He was the dominant figure in an inquiry on an international scale undertaken in 1932. This resulted in the issue in 1935 of "An Examination of Examinations." In this exposure of haphazard methods and plans for reform he had the collaboration of Dr. E. C. Rhodes and also, in a subsequent book, "The Marks of Examiners," of Dr. Rhodes and of Mr. Cyril Burt. Deeply impressed by his experience of the need for systematic education research, he obtained from the Leverhulme Trust
Leverhulme Trust
The Leverhulme Trust was established in 1925 under the will of the First Viscount Leverhulme, William Hesketh Lever, with the instruction that its resources should be used to support "scholarships for the purposes of research and education."...
in 1940 a great of £2,000 to the University of London 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...
for this purpose. The organization thereby set up was renamed in 1945 the National Foundation for Educational Research
National Foundation for Educational Research
The National Foundation for Educational Research was founded in 1946 as a centre for educational research and development in England and Wales. NFER's head office is located at 'The Mere' in Slough, Berkshire, England...
in England and Wales, and in 1947 it applied for a royal charter. Hartog was also the prime mover in the setting up by the Ministry of Labour and National Service before the outbreak of war in 1939 of a Linguistic Committee of the Appointments Registry, and he was its first chairman. In 1933 Hartog wrote, under the authority of the London Institute of Education his valuable study, "Some Aspects of Indian Education, Past and Present." He continued his activities well into his ninth decade, and one of the last of his books, "Words in Action," was published in 1945.
Amid all these labours Hartog was through life a keen helper of his own community. At the end of 1933 he went to Palestine as chairman of the Committee of Inquiry on the organization of the Hebrew University, and subsequently he was president of the Friends in Britain of the university. He did much other work for the Jewish People.
In his obituary it states, "Few educationists still working as did in octogenarian years could look back on so varied, strenuous, and fruitful a career as his. He left an enduring mark on educational thought and practice, not only in India but in this county and the Dominions." Sir Philip Hartog, died at a nursing home in London at the age of 83.