QUIZ KIDS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 25, Issue 630, 27 July 1951, Page 5

QUIZ KIDS

Sir,-On a recent Friday the Quiz Kids were awarded the jack-pot of £20. For this large prize should not these children have to give almost 100 per cent correct answers to the set of questions put to them? I give below four questions from the session, the answers to which the youngsters definitely did not know. (1) The date of Thien of Arc’s death, The first guess was 1500 and something, the next 1600 and something, then came 1700 and something, and then (after a hint from the Q.M. that they were on the wrong track) they started back at 1400 and something. The date being 1431, the Q.M. let them through on this. (2) The date of the first Olympic Games. Again the first guess was 400 B.C., then 500 B.C., 600 B.C., and lastly 700 B.C. Pure guessing, yet again they were let through. (3) The meaning of schizophrenia. Their answers showed that they had not the least idea what it meant, which was not surprising-it was a hard one for youngsters--and the nearest one of them got was that it had "something to do with dreams," Although this was. a long way from the, meaning, which is "split personality," they were let through. (4) The meaning of. surcingle and crupper. They. got "‘surcingle". but only got "crupper" after a broad hint from the Q.M. This is an interesting session, but is it not giving these children an inflated idea of the value of their intelligence to award so large a prize for a display of general knowledge such as this? No school examiner would "let them through" on answers so wide of the

mark.

H.

T.

(Christchurch)

Sir,-Would it be too muth, to ask that a little friendly advice be offered our Quiz Kids on the real importance of clear and distinct speech on their part? As a New Zealander one is naturally pleased and proud at their many displays of brightness and cleverness, but too often disappointed--and even shocked-at their lack of consideration for listeners. Youngstérs). se" bright should need no more than a gentle re-: minder that th Pp ic enter tainers of at the listeners help to pay the pipers-even

though only indirectly--and so have every right to hear the tune, all of it. ‘Might I add that while I regard the jolly, free-and-easy friendliness prevailing between "Master" and "Kids" as all to the good, I think a little more respect for the position of each would make it better? Apart from one’s own entertainment, one is not happy at the thought of the impressions that may, on a particularly care-free night among the "Kids," ‘be gathered by passing-through

listeners.

AUCKLAND LISTENER