TWISTED TEACHING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 164, 14 July 1933, Page 4

TWISTED TEACHING

Sir, — Lii your issue of the 3rd instant you publisu an article from the Weliaic League on the subject of “Twisted x caching.” The general tendency of the article is to lead the public to believe that the schools and universities are becoming hot-beds oi “subversive and anti-patriotic influences,” and the ominous phrases “steady growth” and “what is going on” aie used to give point to the suggestion. 1 am instructed by the Executive of tiie New Zealand Educational Institute to say that in its view such a damaging reflection on the schools and uni varsities should not be made without the citation of facts in support of it. It is worse than useless to say that ‘Space will not allow instances.” If the instances exist they stiould be brought to light so that they can be dealt with. The view of the executive is that the schools as a whole represent the better part of the intelligence of the people of this Dominion; and to publish such an article as that under review, unless it is supported by dclinite reference to individual instances is deserving of severe reprobation. It may interest your readers to know where the Welfare League got the material of which its letter is composed —even the very words and phrases of it. They do not apply to New Zealand at all, but arc the utterance of the president of an unimportant body of teachers in England calling itself the National Association of Schoolmasters—a body that, like sonic others, tries to counter-balance its lack of importance by making a great deal of noise. This is the sort of thing the Welfare League has made use of to besmirch the fair name of the schools and colleges of New Zealand, and it ought to be dealt with in the same way as the president of the great organisation, the National Union of Teachers, dealt with the National Association of Schoolmasters—it should be called on to quote instances or withdraw the calumny. I am, etc., G. R. ASHBRIDGE, Acting-secretary, N.Z.E.I. Wellington, July 12.