"N.Z. People In Danger Of Losing Independence"

Press, Volume C, Issue 29680, 25 November 1961, Page 13

"N.Z. People In Danger Of Losing Independence"

New Zealanders were in great danger of losing their independence, if they had not in fact tost it already, Mr L. J. Broomfield, the district senior inspector of schools, told graduands at the teachers' graduation ceremony in the Civic Theatre last evening. “I fear that we have become all too prone to look too much to the State or to someone other than ourselves to solve our difficulties," he said. “It is comfortable to live in a welfare state, to pool our resources and to be helped from the common pool. But if the price of such comfort and security is our independence, then I think the price too high. “The school is always a reflection of the society it serves. And although society blames the school for not correcting the evils of society, it has a right to look to the school to preserve the things that are good and to lead the rising generation to things that are better. “I sincerely believe that the trait worth preserving and developing in our children Is the trait of independence. This, to me, Is the aim of education. Sound Standards "We do our best job as parents and re teachers when we teach our children to do without us. If our children are to become independent we must build into them sound standards of behaviour, integrity. Industry and perseverance that will enable them to form sound judgments and to live a life satisfying to themselves and to the society of which they are members. "They must have at their command, soundly built into them through understanding and instruction, the fundamental skills of learning so necessary to living tn the present and as foundations upon which to build in the future. “No other body but the school will teach toe child to read, and to write, and to handle numbers. These are as important today as they ever were. If the child is to develop to the full it is essential that he should be able to read, to express himself with correctness in writing and speech, and to handle with accuracy and speed the fundamentals of arithmetic. “We are sometimes accused of not being interested in these things. Nothing could be further from toe truth. It is the job of every teacher to develop to the full the potentialities of every child. "The real heart of education is the teacher. I have no patience with people who would relegate to toe teacher a minor role. TO me the teacher is the most important factor in this whole complicated business of education. "Sometimes I think that there is a plague of unneces-

sary people coming between toe teacher and his pupils. Everyone who is not actively engaged in teaching is merely there to help him to do his job. "The road to Independence is not easy. It requires patience and wisdom, courage and understanding on the part of the teacher. It requires effort and industry, persistence and honesty on the part of the pupil. "Do not try to make toe road too simple for him. He is entitled to success provided he makes the effort that wins success. He should always be required to finish the task set, both to your satisfaction and to his own "Standards are immensely important. Sometimes I think we try too hard to make education too easy Life is full of difficulties and we are not being kind to children when we make their paths too easy. Only by facing his difficulties squarely and by learning to rely upon himself will he win through to independence and be prepared to pay any pries to own himself."