Education

Press, 22 November 1989, Page 20

Education

Sir,—Well said, Simon Upton (November 17). Your article on the direction in which education in New Zealand is heading was a

well reasoned and elegantly expressed commentary which highlighted the greatest threat to our present generation of school . pupils: the subjugation of the traditional core curriculum subjects to the trendy soft options of the guilt-ridden pakeha theorists like Dr Maris O’Rourke. The citizens of the emerging Asian nations who so eagerly seek valuable skills in English, maths and sciences must be laughing into their rice bowls at the spectacle of a competitor in the real world of the 1990 s with a rich European-based educational heritage diverting its talents and resources into peace studies, trade union affairs, and taha Maori. — Yours, etc., K. J. JONES. November 18, 1989.

Sir,— Mr Upton’s article on New Zealand losing its Western heritage ("The Press” (November 17) was most accurate. New Zealanders have become two narcissistic: not only is the educational system becoming two centred on peripheral matters but the general culture is also too centred on internal matters. The TV news in the past week has been dominated by Mr Lange’s personal affairs and proposed changes to the motor transport ; administration. The newspapers have been little better. In the meantime, the Japanese continue to take over the central business districts of New Zealand cities. Surely it’s time to become citizens of the world: the alternative is to continue obtaining a warm inner glow from personal development, education and sporting achievements while the ownership of the country passes into foreign hands. Wake up New Zealand!—Yours, etc., FRANCIS ROSS. November 19, 1989.