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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 27, No. 14. 1964.

More Views on "Washday at the Pa" [Steve O'Regan and John Nicolls]

As Future Teachers we are very concerned at the precedent that the Minister has set in withdrawing "Washday At The Pa." but as New Zea-landers we are even more concerned at the thinking behind the withdrawal and the fact that a Minister of the Crown should be guided by it.

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If educational material, prepared by a specialist branch of the Education Service for use in our schools is subject to withdrawal by the political head of the Service for reasons which are solely political then we must conclude that politics control not merely what children are taught but how they are to be taught. We consider that teaching method and the presentation of ideas to children is the role of the professional teacher who is trained for the Job, and that this role should not be impinged on by people who are not only unqualified but motivated by factors far removed from the problems of teaching.

As New Zealanders we are concerned that the window-dressing and self-deception prevalent in this country on matters of race and living conditions should receive such enthusiastic support from such a large body of otherwise responsible and intelligent people. It is apparent that in this sensitive area at any rate we are far less Interested in what is than what we feel children should know. We can only hope that their reaction, when they eventually lind out, will not be too damaging an experience for them.

Steve O'Regan.

John Nicolls.

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