Frank Tate (educator)

At the end of 1893, following the great financial crisis, the college was closed, but Tate was given charge of classes in Melbourne for the training of pupil teachers.

Tate became a well-known speaker at teachers' congresses and enhanced his reputation as an educationist when giving evidence before the technical education commission.

The state had been going through a period of lean years, but the new director felt that money spent on education would more than repay itself.

Tate felt too that well-educated and capable men and women could not be attracted to an ill-paid profession with little prospect of promotion.

New methods of instruction were brought in, the chief object being the development of a child's mind instead of merely cramming it with facts.

When it was determined that Tate should attend the conference on education held in London in May 1907 he took the opportunity of making a special study of these problems in Europe and the United States of America.

Soon after his return he published a "Preliminary Report upon Observations made during an Official Visit to Europe and America" (1908).

Tate had also paid two visits to London and had sat on commissions dealing with education in New Zealand, Fiji, and Southern Rhodesia.

In addition to the reports mentioned Tate edited As You Like It in the Australasian Shakespeare (1916), and in 1920 published as a pamphlet, Continued Education, Our Opportunity and our Obligation.