"TO KNOW OUR OWN COUNTRY"

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 130, 3 June 1936, Page 8

"TO KNOW OUR OWN COUNTRY"

(To the Editor.) Sir—Since the days when G.B.S. said a few very true words concerning "Home," there seems to me to have been quite a distinct trend towards nationalism, evidenced by such functions as the Authors' Week, etc. It is quite apparent, however, that until somebody invested with authority takes I a hand in revising the syllabus set for I university, and probably primary school, examinations as well, the slavish acceptance of English ways will continue. To take one subject as an example: economic history. The unlucky student has to plough through reams of material concerning such events as the construction of the Duke of Bridgewater's canals, the debasement of currency by Henry VIII and Edward VI, the enclosures, and so on; but absolutely nowhere is there a single sentence devoted to economic evolution in New Zealand. The result is that on passing the examination the student has assimilated a mixture of good and semi-worthless data, which, taken as a whole, helps him not one iota in the study of, say, trade unionism in New Zealand or the evolution of the cooperative dairy factory system or the safeguards, good, bad, and indifferent, against trusts and combines in this country.

The facts mentioned above are not given with' the view to lessening the bonds of sentiment between Home and New Zealand, and it is a matter of prime importance to know our own country, since its laws and institutions affect every one of us. Too much pre-occupation with the obsolete institutions of England leaves the student little leisure to learn what has happened here. As a student, I would be interested to hear any defence of the present syllabus. If there is no defence, I hope that the matter will be pursued further by others abler than myself. What applies in the case of this one subject must also apply in many others; consequently, as I see it, a recasting of the present system would be opportune.—l am, etc., PYLOS.