Educational Research

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31983, 9 May 1969, Page 10

Educational Research

Sir,—Now a conference committee (on educational research) has seen fit to reverse one recommendation of the National Development Conference—so raising the minimum leaving age to a compulsory 16 years—it behoves the Education Department to request more “lollie” for replacement of more worn-out staff, worn-out textbooks, archaic registers of attendance, ablution facilities, rooms and mediocre teaching. Ironically the working committee had to “request” principals to proffer submissions, (presumably to balance the weight of opinion from sundry groups angling for tertiary interests)! Is it symptomatic of the weariness in secondary service that a bare six recommendations in some 60 findings relate to this sphere of education, barely adequate now, and labouring under rapidly deteriorating conditions? How can a reasoning, informed band of experts be so blind as to fail to see the implications of drastically lowering the quality of education still further? —Yours, etc., T. E. SANSON. Hokitika, May 7, 1969.