N.Z.E.I. PRESIDENT RELIES TO CRITICISM OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 November 1948, Page 6

N.Z.E.I. PRESIDENT RE LIES TO CRITICISM OF EDUCATION SYSTEM

Speaking in Wanganui the president of the iNew Zeland Education Institute (Mr. G. H. Robertson) replied to criticism made recently on the education system ol New Zealand by Miss Elaine Newton, Wanganui. Mr. Robertson described Miss Newton’s attacks as "unadulterated rubbish" and “political anti-Government venom.”

“Miss Newton goes out of her way to criticise the ‘new look' in education. as she calls it, but you know, there’s nothing new about it—education has got to be on the move; it can’t be stationary. . . These references the the ‘new look’ and the ‘Beebv plan’ are pure unadulterated rubbish!” Miss Newton’s reference to the operations of the Education Department under “Labour rule” caused Mr. Robertson to declare that her statements were “clearly animated by political. anti-Government venom." He argued that the Education Institute had perforce to be political but it had to be non-party. “Miss Newton has not attacked the teachers, nor departmental officers, but her attack has been levelled at the department and its director by inference. because that is the nearest approach to attacking the Government,” he declared. The speaker went on to say he had no/wish to defend the Governmnt, but he claimed that statements by the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, when he was Minister of Education in 1939 had actually formed the Magna Charta of educational policy. Miss Newton had quoted extracts from the writings of New Educational Fellowship enthusiasts, Zilliacus and Dewey, Mr. Robertson continued: “I frankly cannot see anyone in New Zealand, from the Director of Education downwards who is capable of criticising the work of these authors. I would never expect that anyone in New Zealand would have the temerity to state that these men were talking ‘hooey.” ” “I would suggest that anyone who criticises men of t his standard is laying him or herself open to being told that criticism is not sound in any way whatsoever ” “GENERALISATION.” Miss Newiou « svuluaiiv-.., “standards have fallen in every aspect,” was described by the speaker as "a great generalisation.” “It is understandable that there is a drop in the general standard compared with from 10 to 20 years ago. In those days, about 15 per cent, of primary school pupils went on to postprimary schools —that is, the cream of the primary children. Today 85 per cent of the children pass on to postprimary schools; this, of course, must show a lowering of the general standards, “I would agree that anyone can see there has been a lowering of basic i standards. However, there is a certain basic standard that has to be mintained and I suggest that this is maintained.

Miss Newton’s reference to “selling the idea of a new education to the public,” brought the following comment from the speaker: “Frankly, this is my only criticism against the department. The department should and could have told the public what it was all about. Unfortunately, there was a lack of liaison between the public and the department.

Mention by Miss Newton of “remedying the ills” prompted the speaker to emphasise that the education Institute “must not let criticism such as this go unanswered.”

“This institute has lived about 65 years, and through those years it has carried out hopes and ambitions all centred in the one direction—the improvement of the education system. Speaking on the professional aspect of teaching, the president asked: “To what extent should teachers interest themselves in matters outside the four walls of the home ‘or the schoolroom? What should organisations such as U.N.E.S.C.O. and U.N. mean to them? • “I believe that if teaching is only a job, you can’t expect the teacner to view the wider horizons, but if the teacher renders a professional service then U.N.E.S.C.O. can gladly look to him for support in attaining its object. If teaching is not that, it should cease once and for all to claim itself as a profession. “The teachers of today are better than they, were 20 years ago, but they’ve got to be better still—better selected and better trained.”

The speaker closed by reminding his audience that the aim of the Education institute was the improvement of the education system generally. About 35 members attended the meeting and Miss E. B. Pay. branch president, presided. The branch has about 175 members and covers a district extending as far north as Patea and as far inland as Kakatahi.