Report nonsense —rector

Press, 30 April 1981, Page 6

Report nonsense —rector

PA Timaru The rector of Timaru Boys’ High School, Mr R. J. Welch, has sharply criticised the Employers’ ‘Federation discussion paper. “Secondary education and the path to work.” He said the paper was “arrant nonsense.” “I have not yet received a copy of the federation’s document,” Mr Welch said. “I can only comment on the Press Association report.” It was a “piece of arrant nonsense, a gross mixture of error, inaccuracy, distortion, exaggeration and sweeping generalisation.” “If Mr S.W. Duncan (the federation’s president) cannot make more sensible comment then he needs some specific skills in communication. But the assistant DirectorGeneral of Education, Mr J. A. Ross, welcomed the employers’ initiative in bringing together in one document the issues in helping pupils make the transition to work. While the department did not accept the assertion that secondary education geared towards was the academic minority or that this was the minority, it was prepared to

look at school-leaver documentation. <An examination had already been organised. The department was keen to promote more work exploration for pupils an had produced revised guidelines for this area. The department's document would be part of the brief for 23 district committees (based on trade council districts) which would get under way soon in work transition planning and; development. The committees comprised representatives of teacher, unions, trades councils, education boards, the department, employers, the Combined State Unions. Federated Farmers (in rural areas), and trade unions. ; The president of the Post-1 Primary Teachers’ Association, Miss Edna. Tait, wel-, corned the federation's docu--ment. • ■ | “While the association can- 1 not agree with everything contained in the document, I note with satisfaction that in many areas the concerns ex- f pressed by the employers' echo policies [ that the J association has been pursu- 1 ing for many years. .