Letter: Bad idea then, bad idea now

Last updated 12:00 09/02/2010

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OPINION: The early 20th-century Spanish philosopher George Santayana observed that those who cannot learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

Is the writer of the editorial "Teacher union must allow for progress" (Feb 3) aware that standards were extensively used in New Zealand primary schools in the late 19th century? Inspectors visited every school and determined which pupils had the necessary numeracy and literacy to proceed to the next level.

Teachers were judged, lauded, rewarded or castigated on how many of their class passed. And guess what the teachers did? They taught to the standards.

Day after day, students had a dreary diet of nothing but reading, writing and arithmetic. The New Zealand curriculum was in a straitjacket of conformity. Some progress.

I wonder what the teachers in today's schools will do?

ROB JULIAN

Johnsonville

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