SECONDARY EDUCATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 November 1945, Page 6

SECONDARY EDUCATION

EMPLOYERS' COMPLAINT

“Certain fundamental weaknesses we find apparent in the educational qualifications of young people entering the commercial field to earn a livelihood at the present time,” are referred to in a letter which the Marlborough Stock and Station Agents’ Association has sent to the Board of Governors of Marlborough College. The chairman of the Association, Mr R. H. Clark, states: “The experience of our members for some years past indicates a general deterioration in knowledge and proficiency in the fundamentals of English and arithmetic, with particular reference to spelling, punctuation and grammar. What gives rise to this inadequacy your staff would no doubt be best qualified to define, but we regard it as beyond dispute that young people leaving college are deficient in a fundamental command of English diction and grammar; even letters comprising sentences lacking a verb are not infrequently submitted. “It is suggested that a vital contributing factor lies in the teaching of commercial subjects to students long before they have acquired proficiency in fundamentals, and we would presume to discount the value of commercial subjects as part of a normal secondary school curriculum. No degree of competency in shorthand, typing and book-keeping will ever compensate for an initial inadequacy in fundamentals, and students so lacking will rarely compete successfully in commercial life. Book-keeping appeals to us as a subject which should never form part of a secondary school syllabus as the student has rarely developed sufficient breadth in general knowledge to specialise with profit. “Other things being equal, students trained under a professional course will always receive preference in appointments over those who have studied commercial subjects. Further, the professional course is a prerequisite to attaining subsequent qualifications in accountancy.

“In conclusion, sir, may I say that this letter is intended to be helpful rather than critical, in that it records to you the present reactions of a section of the commercial community. With your approval, we propose publishing this letter in the hope that it will inspire helpful coijiments from other sections of the community.” The chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr A. M. Gascoigne, told the “Express” that the letter would come before the Wext meeting of the board. In the meantime he preferred not to comment.