‘EDUCATION SUFFERING’

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32561, 22 March 1971, Page 14

‘EDUCATION SUFFERING’

; Reorganisation 1 called for -4 ■?.• ‘fi’i > -Secondary schools in New I Zealand were suffering from . “administrative run-down,” [ the secretary of the Post PriI mary Teachers’ Association (Mr B. Pritchett) said on Fri- ! day at the association’s an- ’ nual meeting. . “It is doubtful whether the services rendered to assist ; the. teacher at the clerical , level; the direction of the , academic and curricular life of the school, or the personal ' attention the pupils needs are anywhere near the standard of a modest private school in the 19205,” said Mr Pritchett. “The run-down in administrative capability is occurri ing at a time of immense pressure in schools. Roll num- . bers are climbing throughout ‘ the country and the general ■ level of academic qualifications is declining.” Pressures on .teachers and ! school administrations included demands by pupils for more freedom, he said. The : old concept of pupil welfare as "the quick sap and sharp answer,” would have to stop. “The teacher would have to adopt a less authoritative and more sensitive approach to the pupil.’’; The form of administration based on the principal and : tiie vice-principal was suitable : 20 years ago, but with bigger : schools and rolls more people 1 were needed for administrative duties, he said. He also called for more flexible and wider curricu-lar-structures, to coincide 1 with his hoped for change in j teaching methods. Another factor that put pressure on teachers was the fact that the average age of post-primary tecahers had de- ( creased. These younger teach-’ ers required help and advice from senior members of staffs, putting more strain on senior teachers, he said. I