“Better basics”

Press, 8 September 1978, Page 12

“Better basics”

Sir, — In reply to your correspondent, C, Bradley (September 5), he or she must imagine teachers ?, s , stick-swinging tyrants, would the correspondent accept the word ••control” in lieu of “discipline”? C. Bradley is an obvious advocate of free expression at an eorly age — everyone doing their own thing even to the detriment or distraction of others. They have been referred to as “trendy thinkers.” I call It “Spockism’’ after that American general practitioner who wrote the book on child care — an exponent of that self-destroy-ing system of early free expression and self-devel-opment. Spock now admits his applied theory was a disaster. Too many young people leave school starved of knowledge and social skills and ill-trained to take their place in society. They despise the entire adult world for not controlling them while at primary schools, and break into open rebellion at intermediate and secondary school level. These are the casualties — bewildered adolescents who return to use vandalism on the system that failed them. — Yours, etc., JOHN QUIRKE, September 6, 1978.