THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26704, 25 February 1948, Page 2

THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Sir, —In your columns in the issue of February 19 were some remarks by the Minister of Education about the experiments that have been carried out in our education system. He remarks that it is time for stock-taking. With this I think everyone will agree heartily. Mr McCombs goes on to say that criticism of the system is unfair if based on results of university entrance examinations, because these examinations have been sat by “ rejects ” from secondary schools. Now, Sir, in the printed school assignments appearing in your paper, there have been glaring errors in (what used to be primary school) grammar, such as the error pointed out by “ Ex-teacher ” last week, and also the use of a singular verb with plural subject. We presume that the writers of the assignments have been educated to a standard where they are considered eligible to teach the youth of this country. Truly the time of stocktaking is now.—l am, etc.. Critic.

Sir,—The Minister of Education, Mr McCombs, is reported to have said that we are unfair in our criticism of the system of education in our schools today. We ask him: Does l.e think we are not concerned about the welfare of our children? The average parent can well see that our children are coming out of the schools with a much lower standard of education than we did. The Chamber of Commerce and the Manufacturers’ Association know well the youth of today can neither write, read nor count figures, and as for discipline, well, the great majority of them do not know what it means. How can the Minister of Education expect us to keep silent In the face of these facts.

In the past the system of education was built on the sound and very economical foundation of the “ three R’s ’’ and discipline. Under this system England produced some very highly cultured men who made Great Britain the greatest nation in the world. Since the change of our educational system Great Britain has been governed by a bunch of duffers, and for Britain to retain her old position in the world she must return to the old and sound system of education. Perhaps the Prime Minister now will tell us why the system of education was changed in our country.—l am, etc., G. McQueen. [Abridged.—Ed.. O.D.T.]