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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria University College, Wellington N.Z. Vol. 20, No. 14. September 26, 1957

A Question of Quantity

A Question of Quantity

This leads me to make a distinction between newness conceived quantitatively and qualitatively. Let me generalise, and say that practical attempts to bring about Plato's idea of universal education began in the 19th Century; and, perhaps unfortunately, in Germany. (Comenius, Fichte, von Humboldt. Frocbel. Hegel, and Herbart built Prussia: and not Bismarck and von Moltke.) Let me narrow this argument down and localise it. In the real meaning of the word universal education in New Zealand is quite new. When we speak of the "new" education and "Beebyisrn" (and especially when we make careless comparisons between education in the "good old days" and the present) we should bear in mind the facts, which anyone can verify for himself, from Reports to the House of Representatives, in 1926, when we were hidebound and traditional, and had the Proficiency Examination (and "high standards"), and no Accrediting for University Entrance, and no mamby-pamby "play way" in the junior school, we had:
(1)A population of roughly 1½ million;
(2)A school population of roughly 200,000;
(3)Roughly 17,500) primary school "leavers." one-third of whom left, aged 14 plus, without Proficiency; being thereby denied post-primary education:
(4)Roughly 20,000 pupils in the post-primary schools, one-third of all entrants leaving in the Third Form, another third to the Fourth Form, and so on; and
(5)A few thousand in the University Colleges.
In 1957, when we are supposed to have gone to the dogs, we have:
(1)A population of just over 2 million:
(2)A school population of roughly 485,000;
(3)Hardly any primary school "leavers";
(4)40,000 odd children in Form 111. 39,000 odd in Form IV. and 20,000 odd in Forms V and VI; and
(5)Roughly as many students in Victoria University College as there were in all the University Colleges 30 years earlier.

This is the "new" education with a vengeance, the significant figures are those comparing total population (roughly 30 per cent, increase) with school population (roughly 240 per cent, increase), and those indicating the extern to which post-primary education accounts for the difference, Granted that the births for the first 30 odd years of the century were around the 30,000 mark, and for the last 20 years have jumped to roughly 40,000, the fact that there are now as many children in Forms V and VI as there were in the post-primary schools is a new phenomenon: the result not merely of economic circumstances, though they are important, but also of policy making.

(Call this Peter Fraserism-cum-Beebyism if you like, and attack it if you can.)

As I have suggested above the film has its serious moments. It tries to show that when one culture is imposed upon another, then limitless sagacity and understanding are demanded if one of them is not to be destroyed and ineffectively replaced by the other. Near the end this undercurrent rises to the surface, and for a moment or two Fisby plays the part of Brash Eager Democracy, while Lotus Blossom becomes the Ancient Mysterious East, and they have a somewhat irritating conversation concerning what they should do about it. Come to think of if, this could have have been quite funny in a base sort of way, hut instead the comedy and the light touch drop away altogether and the message glares forth. This is a pity, but though it may slightly mar the film for some. [unclear: "Tcaiousc"] remains nevertheless a comedy of rare quality.

—J.R.S

machine which made an error of a quarter of a million dollars on the payroll "machines have always been my mortal enemies . . . they're full of malice'. He was requested to request a transfer to Psychological Warfare, where he was so successful in undermining the stairs morale that he was requested to request a transfer to Colonel Wainwright Purdy Ill's outfit.) Ford is surprisingly effective as a clown.

Sakini (whose narrative function is considerably reduced in the film) is played by Malron Brando, though I'm sure I can't see why. Certainly he is not scree good at it, and it is hard to see any reason for giving him a part so obviously unsuited to an actor of his type Sakini is meant to be a shrewd little scalliwag, cheeky and loveable. Was Brando ever cheeky and loveable? Surprise easting is all very well, but not this! Paul Douglas would have been as suitable. Or Humphrey Bogart.

Lotus Blossum, the geisha, is played by Machiko kyo, who is apparently a well-known Oriental screen star, She is charming in this not-very-demanding part.