Report on education

Press, 24 May 1988, Page 12

Report on education

Sir,—l am surprised and disturbed at the lack of comment generated by the Picot Report on education. This middle-class, Utopian view of educational administration would destroy many of the aspects of the New Zealand educational system that do work well. In throwing out the baby as well as the bathwater this report has failed to grasp the practicalities of the present system and is placing all the responsibilities for the complex day-to-day running of schools into the hands of, in the main, parents who have already indicated their unwillingness or lack of time to be involved in the relatively small amount of administration currently required of school committees. I would urge all parents to read this

report carefully before it is “fast tracked” to finality. Is the State school education dollar to be further stretched by “five unpaid volunteers,” plus principal and teacher representative, assuming responsibility for the Government’s previous undertakings by way of the “board of trustees”? — Yours, etc,. H. G. WILKINSON. May 17,1988.

Sir, —I am aghast at the attitude displayed by the president of the Educational Institute, Mr Bob Baird, towards the Picot report. To look at the report in such a totally negative, sexist and unresearched light seems to me insulting to both the teachers and the parents of the children in our schools and I suggest Mr Baird substantiate his comments with fact. How can he say, amongst other things, schools would not find parents willing to take on the responsibilities of being on a board of trustees? At least elect them first. I hope the teachers teaching our children have a more open-minded and positive attitude to the changes our society is undergoing today and are able to look towards and strive for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and not be put off by a few thunderstorms encountered en ■ route.—Yours, etc., POLLY FOSTER. May 19, 1988.