Salient: An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 5, June 8th, 1949.
Why?
Why?
H. G. R. Mason gives the aims of modern education in his "Education Today and Tomorrow" as follows—"to provide a broader education of the whole being—mental, moral and physical. Also "every person whatever his level of academic ability . . . has a right as a citizen, to a free education of the kind for which he is best fitted and to the fullest extent of his powers."
From the point of utility, of what real use is the ability to trot forth facts at command? More facts can be found in appropriate books, machines can cope with arithmetical problems more quickly and accurately, and hand-writing is not at such a premium when type-writers can do the job more efficiently and in less time.
It would be sheer stupidity to waste time competing with these modern inventions, even if that were the aim of education. And it is not. The cry of "raising the standards" is an anachronism. I maintain that a departure from the previous standards of attainment is not making for a low standard of education. It is merely that the accent has been shifted from sterile academic attainments to an education that eaters for a full development of a child's capabilities in any and all spheres which suit his needs.
If anyone would like to pursue this further the matter is well dealt with in H. G. R. Mason's "Education Today and Tomorrow." The short outline of the aims of New Zealand Education on page 8 is probably the best exposition of educational philosophy in a few words one can find.