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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 10, No. 7. June 11, 1947
[Introduction]
In place of "How Things Began" we present "Have You Read." These words were the first and only intimation to teachers in schools taking the NBS Broadcasts to Schools, that the usual Social Studies Serial, "How Things Began" had been suspended. This suspension followed a number of anti-evolutionary letters in the daily papers, and was imposed without consultation with practising teachers.
"Salient" interviewed Miss Jean Combs, Officer in Charge of Broadcasts to Schools. Miss Combs was able to give us the information that she was acting on a directive which called for immediate suspension, but was not prepared to say from whom the directive was received.
"Why teas the serial considered unsuitable!"
Miss Combs stated that no complaints had been received from teachers. She also supplied the information that the serial had been used for four years by the BBC. It was carefully checked and amended in the light of Broadcasting experience, and in 1945-46 the script was revised and used again. This revised script was the one used by the NBS. Miss Combs gave an outline of the method of selection used by the BBC. There is an advisory council of 51 members, including both administrators and teachers. When the serial was considered for production in New Zealand, it was thought highly suitable by all authorities concerned, and was favourably reviewed in the "Listener."
"What Guarantee is there that the Script is Accurate?"
There is the approval of Professors Ford and Whittard, who hold respectively chairs of Anthropology and Paleontology at the University of London. We consider that sufficient guarantee of its scientific accuracy.