U.S. TEACHERS ON STUDY TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29278, 9 August 1960, Page 19

U.S. TEACHERS ON STUDY TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND

American films such as “Blackboard Jungle” gave a very misleading picture of school life in the United States, said Dr. John H. Sticht in an interview in Ashburton. Dr. Stitcht is in charge of 13 American school-teachers who are at present on a study trip to New Zealand.

He said he felt that many people had gained entirely the wrong idea as to how the majority of American schools were run. “It would not be so bad if this type of film was screened only in the States, but when shown in other countries, the wrong light is thrown on to our educating system,” he said.

Dr. Sticht was born in Tasmania and gained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of New Zealand. He then went to Harvard University where he took his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees before returning to Wellington where he taught geography and geology at Victoria University. On a teaching fellowship he returned to Harvard, and afterwards lectured in geography at the University of New Hampshire. Since 1946, he has been professor of geology at the College of the Pacific, Stockton, California. This college is the oldest institution of higher education in California.

Ten of the 13 teachers are from schools in California, two are from New York, and one from Chicago. The visit is being, sponsored by the Californian Teachers’ Association and each member of the party has undertaken a specific geographic project on some aspect of the south-west Pacific.

“I think this kind of study tour is extremely important in giving people the chance to gather firsthand information on a particular country. Reading cannot be a substitute for what is actually seen,” said Dr. Sticht. The party arrived at Auckland in the Mariposa on July 16, but stayed only one day before going to Sydney. Dr. Sticht said two hours every day during the voyage were spent in discussions. They held seminars in Melbourne, and Hobart, and will hold one in Wellington later this week. While in Australia, the party visited many schools. They then flew back to New Zealand where they spent three days In Auckland, and visited Rotorua and Waitomo. Visited Country Schools Two small country schools— Matamata, and a Maori school near Rotorua—were also inspected. "We were much impressed by the great reception we got at these small schools,” said Dr. Sticht The party left Ashburton on Sunday for Mount Cook where they will stay at the Hermitage for two days. After a stop at Queenstown, the teachers will leave for Wellington by air from Dunedin later this week. From observations made, he

considered that the average New Zealand child was more reserved than his American counterpart, said Dr. Sticht. This was particularly so in the teacher-pupil relationships. New Zealand children, however, were, in his opinion, more respectful to their teachers, he said. Organisation in New Zealand schools was quite different from American schools, but he had gained the impression that they were extremely well organised, said Dr. Sticht. He added that he was also impressed at the co-operation between the administrative bodies and head-teachers of schools. School libraries in New Zealand, however, were nowhere near American standards, said Dr. Sticht.