Critical Submissions On “Playway” Education

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 16

Critical Submissions On “Playway” Education

(New Zealand Press Association)

PALM. NORTH, May. 22.

The “playway" system of education in New Zealand produced a “don’t care” attitude in children, and fostered a lack of respect for authority, which could be a contributory cause of delinquency. it was submitted by a Levin parents’ group to the Commission on Education in Palmerston North today.

“The ‘playway’ system produces a child who is not fully occupied, or extended to the maximum of ability. ” the group submitted. “The system also gives a lack of incentive, where the standard of attainment is average on a report It is felt that age promotion regardles of ability neglects the very slow child, and. more important still, the child of above-average inteligence.

“Memory training, bv repetition, is essential for the fundamentals such as tables, spelling, and poetry.” it was submitted.

“Because of a lack of sound, scholastic training and discipline, many children enter high school unprepared, mentally and emotionally, for the increased pressure put on them” Increasing numbers of

children were, as a consequence, bewildered, experienced a sence of failure, and then antagonism, the group submitted. It was felt that that was largely the cause of anti-social attitudes and delinquency. Intermediate schools could be of help to bridge the gap between the two systems of schooling, but where they did not exist, the group recommended that Forms I and II should begin training for the wider range of subjects encountered on entry to high school, and that advice and a full report should be given to the parents as to the ability and suitability of their child for a vocation. It was also felt that character reports were unnecessary as parents were the best judges of a child's character.