British and New Zealand Education Comparisons

Chronicle (Levin), 22 October 1949, Page 5

British and New Zealand Education Comparisons

Received Fridav 8.30 p.m. LONDON, Oct 21. The average school child in Britaift today appeared to be better nourished a»«l [ihysically developed tlian was thi case before the war, said the Headmas ter of Wanganui Collegiate School, Mi P.ank Gilligan, who leaves on his re tuni to New Zealand. next week afte: spoiuling the summer in Britain. Mr Gilligan, who lias visited a num bt'i of schools of botli types during hiv i.-it said he also felt that a successfu attempt was being made to bridge thi gap between the publie schools and grammar schools. He had been particu larly interested in the progress made ai his own old school, Dulwich Collegtwtiere he found that a large proportion of the bovs were now admitted from ( ouneil schools on the nomination of the London Countv ConnciL There were of course, people who deprecated tht change, lmt on the whole he considered it beneficial. Mr Gilligan said he would not veu ture to conipare the English secondan s-liool system in its various grade:v.ith that in New Zealand exeept t. s:ty that he felt that the average Nev Zealand secondarv schoolboy possitiL received a better general educatioi thaii the average in Britain. The empha sis in Britain was still very inuch upon the Oxford and Cambridge University scliolarship, and this meant that in the v: t paration of inany potential scholar slilp candidates stress was laid on class ical languages. This was, of course • ui ;able but it sometinies meant that iess was taught about subjects like his tory. geography and eivics which weri i.cist necessary for a general back gr .'hmI. New Zealand phvsical education also seeitrrd to give a better general ground it.g than the English system where th» f inphasis was more on aptitude in in dividual games rather than on al! roumi iitness and development. Mr Gilligan travelled from New Zea land with the New Zealand cricket t'-vi. and saw the majority of their mat in England. There was no doubt v.hntever, he said, that the New Zea laii'l players had made a splendid imTce^sion both on and olf the field. The> hui not onlv enhanced New Zealand 's pre-tige at cricket but the eountry's :••{>. ;tat ion. Mr Gilligan will travel to Australia in thi- St ratheden and expects to arrive 1 •::!; in New Zealand late in November.