Little Interest In TV

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30763, 29 May 1965, Page 19

Little Interest In TV

The Papanui High School Board showed least in-

terest in educational television of all the secondary schools which have recently discussed proposals for a trial scheme in Christchurch. Although they agreed to leave discussion open, board members without exception said they could not see how television could offer anything which could not be provided as well or better on films. Mr J. Palmer said that schools should wait for a move from the Education Department. Any educational television for schools would require widespread consultation and planning and careful integration in the school day. The headmaster (Mr E. Fancy) said he was impressed by the possibilities of televis-

ion in relieving teacher shortages but New Zealand had not reached such a desperate state. In the meantime schools had access to an enormous range of films and any new effort or expense might better be put into expanding and updating this material. “Films and radio have been with us a long time now and they have made only a moderate impact on education,” said Mr Fancy. “Teachers use them as occasional aids for specific purposes, not as a system.” “Some say television would enable pupils to look at and listen to science programmes but that would not replace the stimulation of actual experiment,” said the chairman (Mr D. Prestney). Professor A. Crowther (University of Canterbury head of psychology) said he saw only one advantage—the camera could zoom in on demonstrations giving everybody a comfortable close-up But that could be done with films. “I wouldn’t like to see

television used extensively in schools,” he said. “I feel teaching is fundamentally the meeting of two people. If we go the other way our children are going to be untouched by human minds from the cradle to the grave.” Mr R. H. Truscott said he had read with interest how well medical operations could be demonstrated on television but that was not applicable to schools and film could be used for that also. “I can’t see any real advantages,” said Mr O. C. Mitchell, It was agreed to report these views to the Christchurch Secondary Schools’ Council but to consider any further proposals in this area.