SCHOOL LEAVING AGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 32, 23 May 1947, Page 5

SCHOOL LEAVING AGE

VIEWS OF TEACHERS’ JOURNAL

“The New Zealand Educational Institute stands for the raising of the school leaving age to 16, but upon conditions. Though obvious, the conditions need to be repeated with emphasis,” says a leading article in “National Education” journal of the teachers’ organisation. “The conditions are that the need of providing accommodation and staffing for the education of these thousands of 15-16 year-olds does not cause further delay in the reduction of the size of classes and in the providing of adequate floor space in existing schools.

“Teachers know that no worthwhile improvements can be made in classroom objectives and technique till classes are greatly reduced in average size. Yet—and the irony of it—they have seen all sorts of innovations made while this basic essential of genuine reform has received but scant attention. That some of the innovations have been enlightened only intensifies the irony. They have implied a sanguine confidence that good vintage grapes can be got to grow on thistles. “Before, therefore, thousands of additional pupils seek shelter under school roofs, teachers-want to see the existing classes housed and staffed as the modern art and science of education makes it clear that they should. It is worse than useless while tens of thousands of youngsters are suffering from disadvantages and shortcomings put up with for over a generation to add a ye&r to their schooling. A. year is of negligible value alike to child and parent. These youngsters would be far better done by, even though they left at 15, if the authorities saw to it that they got a square deal from the age of five up to that age. “Teachers; generally, it is safe to state, will heartily endorse what the institute president, Mr W. J.,Cartwright, has thought it timely to say about the possibility in the near future of raising the leaving age to 16.”