Dr. Ausubel’s Comment On N.Z. Schools “Ridiculous”

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28540, 20 March 1958, Page 10

Dr. Ausubel’s Comment On N.Z. Schools “Ridiculous”

(New Zealand Press Association)

TIMARU, March 19. To suggest that unnecessarily repressive and authoritarian discipline in New Zealand secondary schools was a possible cause of bodgieism was ridiculous, said the Minister of Education (Mr Skoglund) this afternoon. He was commenting on a statement by Dr. D. P. Ausubel. of the Bureau of Educational Research of the University of Illinois, in an address yesterday, to the Justice Department’s annual conference of psychologists. It was obvious that Dr. Ausubel knew little about the New Zealand secondary school system, said the Minister. To suggest that there was a militaristic atmosphere. that exaggerated deference was given to teachers and headmasters, and that corporal and other heavy-handed types of punishment were handed out was ridiculous, he said. “Our secondary schools do believe in school uniforms, which allow all pupils to mix on an equal footing.” Mr Skoglund said. “We believe in deference being shown to teachers and headmasters. in the same way as we respect age.” Most New Zealand secondary schools he said, gave every opportunity for boys and girls to mix whenever possible, particularly in sport. One could agree there was no single cause of delinquency, but there could not be included among the causes any wholesale condemnation of the New Zealand secondary school system, said Mr Skoglund. Mr Bceby’s Views

“I don’t think that there is any evidence at all that unnecessarily repressive and authoritarian discipline in New Zealand secondary schools is a cause of bodgieism,” the Director of Education (Mr C. E. Beeby) said in Wellington. “You can put a hand in the air and pull out any reason that takes your fancy, but I know of no

evidence at all to support the one advanced by Dr. Ausubel.”

Mr Beeby agreed with Dr. Ausubel’s reference to the "doctrine of single causality,” but sag. gested that Dr. Ausubel, in his reported remarks, had followed this doctrine.

It was true that New Zealand secondary school discipline was more authoritarian than in the average United States school. This fact would probably strike a visiting American, just as the apparently too easy discipline m American schools would strike a New Zealand visitor.

“Which system is right I am not prepared to say,” Mr Beeby continued. “I have the feeling that what Dr. Ausubel was trying to say was that many people outside the United States are inclined to blame the easy discipline of American schools as a cause of bodgieism.” “Refreshing”

After hearing so much criticism of discipline in New Zealand schools being too easy, it was rather refreshing to read a reference to it as authoritarian, he said.

“But I don’t think for a moment that the school discipline is a major factor in promoting bodgieism.” Mr Beeby said. “I don’t think it’s a factor of any great significance at all.”