POWER IS AT THE CENTRE

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32975, 22 July 1972, Page 14

POWER IS AT THE CENTRE

(By

WHIM WHAM)

Central programme production is urged. A “substantial number” of programmes will have to be made in New Zealand, says the report of the commit tee on television in education. The Department of Education would need a full-time staff to prepare programmes and work with the N.Z.B.C. production staff . . . recommends the introduction of black and white television in all New Zealand schools, starting at primary level.. .—News.

Can’t you imagine Them sitting there. Trapped in the bug-eyed Box’s glare, — Pushbutton Teacher and turned-off Kid All plugged into the National Grid, — Getting the Picture, trimmed and slotted By the God in the Box in the Time allotted? Do you think of them all in Consultation, Bureaucrats of a servile Nation, Pedagogues dizzy with Innovation, And topping the Lot, the Corporation! With two Committees, a Council too, — That’s twenty Cooks to stir the Stew. Sloshing it into the common Trough, Channel or Drain, till it’s all drawn off, — Food for the Mind, or watery Gruel, Bottled or mushed for the hungry School? For the common Trough they’ll stir and slosh. Bellies to fill, and Brains to wash; A thousand Classes to each Committee, — And how many Jobs in the Capital City? Power corrupts, — look down the Ages, — Even Committees of Saints and Sages. This is a Power I’d rather by Half here Give to a national cultural Mafia. Black and White — or Colour, you say? I see those Boxes fading away To the National Colour, a uniform Grey, — Every Kiwi a drab Nonentity Pecking around for his lost Identity. HOPEFUL AFTERTHOUGHT Why all this Planning for Form II TV? It’s what we’ve got, so far as I can see.