BEEBY, Clarence Edward, C.M.G.
(1902– ).
Educationist.
Born in Leeds, England, on 16 June 1902, Clarence Edward Beeby came to New Zealand in early childhood and was educated at Canterbury University College, B.A. (1923), M.A. (1924). In 1924 he was appointed assistant lecturer in philosophy at Canterbury University. He spent the academic years 1925 and 1926 at the University of Manchester where he obtained his Ph.D. On his return to New Zealand he rejoined the staff of Canterbury University, where he became a lecturer in experimental education and psychology. He also acted as head of the philosophy department for a short time in 1934. In these years he had done much work with the W.E.A., and this experience led to his appointment as Director of the Council for Educational Research, 1934–38. He then joined the Education Department as Assistant Director, and became Director in 1940. From 1946 he was concerned closely with UNESCO in its educational activities. In 1960 he left the education field to become New Zealand's Ambassador to France and New Zealand Representative (and Chairman) on the Executive Board of UNESCO. On his retirement from the ambassadorship in 1963 he took up a six months' research fellowship in education at Harvard. In 1956 he was awarded the C.M.G.
