Education Levels

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31383, 31 May 1967, Page 14

Education Levels

Sir, —I would be interested to know if K. R. Farnsworth is quoting official statistics dr giving his own opinion when he states that New Zealand youngsters are three years behind their, European counterparts, academically. This statement is at variance with the opinion 1 formed as a teacher and parent, after primary school experience in England and Ireland. When we arrived in London, our son, aged seven, was the only child in his class able to read, orally or silently. American friends found, on their return to their former home after two years in New Zealand, that one child was able to skip a class and still find the work easy; the other is maintaining A passes among his previous class-mites for the first time. As a teacher in nine different English schools, and of recent English arrivals in New Zealand schools, I find these children generally more advanced in arithmetic but lagging behind in other subjects—Yours, etc., D: MARTIN. May 30, 1967.

Trade Fairs Sir,—l also have received a letter from Montreal describ- i ing the fantastic exhibits and i enormous crowds, but, unfor-1 tunately, no New Zealand dis-1 play. However, in another i newspaper report We read of 1 the efforts of three Kiwis at i Expo in putting cm a make- ; shift act to draw attention to i New Zealand. I am inclined i to agree with “G.8.W.” that 1 the policy of the Government < in deciding against an exhibit i there is short-sighted. In an I exhibition of this size the ’ outlay involved in setting up ’ a New Zealand display would 1 be more than justified. The stand at the trade fair in i British Columbia has been i described as only moderately successful. By combining this display with one at Expo 67 : the New Zealand “image” could be brought to millions with benefit to the tourist industry in New Zealand and to increasing and diversifying our markets overseas. Yours, etc., HAYSEED (CHEVIOT). May 29, 1967.