School Systems

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30803, 15 July 1965, Page 14

School Systems

Sir,—On July 2. “The Press” reported Dr. W. D. Minogue, senior lecturer in Education at Auckland University, speaking as a member of a W.E.A. panel on “Discipline in the Secondary School,” as advocating the replacement of the prefect system by something more demo"ratic. In today’s issue Mr D W. Couch, recently returned on holiday from an 1100-pupil co-educational school in British Columbia, renorts that he found no prefects but “a tremendously effective school council, which organises just about everything, with teachers only as advisers.” We had such a school council at Rangiora High School from 1918 until 1948, when Mr J. E. Strachan who introduced it, retired. As a member of the staff for 25 of those 30 years. 1 can vouch for the system. We were all more self-reliant, more selfconfident. and more fulfilled as a result. I feel very strongly that if our schools adopted this system there would be fewer frustrated voung people in our community. Surely it is worth trying. Our new high schools are missing a wonderful opportunity.—Youts, etc., P.G.M.H. July 13, 1965.

Sir,—From the viewpoint of a parent, 1 do not agree with Mr D. W. Couch’s views on Canadian versus New Zealand schools. For a nine-year period my four sons attended one of Canada’s model schools, staffed by the cream from the adjacent teachers’ training college. After three years in Christchurch, 1 consider that the New Zealand system is at least as good for the academic child and better for the non-academic. High pressure towards academic excellence can be disastrous for the pupil lacking ability or self-confidence. The demoralising effect of persistently failing academically may be such that the child fails to discover his nonacademic but real talents. High school graduation—essential in Canada, but for a large number it is an unattainable goal. The system ignores these potentially useful citizens. However. 1 agree wholeheartedly with Mr Couch in his praise for central heating.—Yours, etc., M.F.B. July 13. 1965.

Sir,—l hope that Mr and Mrs Couch will one day permanently return from Canada and repay, from their experience of the admirable system there, the taxpayers whose money trained both of them That would be admirable, but 1 do not see anything admirable in “snow falling from December until after Easter," necessitating a salary able to pay for a 70 degree indoor temperature, which so enervates that one feels colder in a “much less severe New Zealand winter.” Nor is the

shorter duration of life, and age benefit at 70 for those who “make it.” Perhaps social security savings allow more for teachers. That New Zealand school shorts would be “a laughing stock” is deducible by the most under-edu-cated New Zealander observing, at a distance, thank goodness, five months of snow. Shorts are more hygienic and cleanable. I wonder what those 70-degree classrooms are like.—Yours, etc., PHEW. July 14, 1965.