pale artificial cinema substitutes, which are poor stuff in exchange for the real flesh and blood adventures. To make matters worse, we are today hitting the peak of social restlessness—the sorry aftermath of the Insecurity of home life engendered by the last war. The alarmingly high divorce rate has accentuated this and the schools have received greater numbers than before of children who have not enjoyed a proper home life. This is the grave challenge of our day to the churches, homes and schools. As my colleague, the headmaster of KIngswood, said last month In his annual report: "With courage and sagacity to set aboutthe problem as a trained scientist would—cost what It may in pride or cherished conceptions—we can, I am sure, lead our young folk back emotionally and intellectually to a world of genuine values that will command their respect and loyalty." The second point I wish to raise Is the matter of the small financial grant which the province gives us. We indirectly relieve the province of the cost of providing education and buildings for some 315 pupils, for which we receive a grant-ln-aid from theprovince of a mere £17 to £26 per head (depending on whether we count all the scholars at the school or those who live in Natal only), whereas it costs the province some £66 to £58(depending on what Is Included, and excluding all building and capital costs) per head for educating a day child. No tax relief is given to parents who wish to give their children the best in edu cation. Surely In equity parents who send children to private schools are entitled to the minimum which It costs for their children to be educated by the State or to some relief by way of taxation? This case for greater public support is even stronger when one realises that in countries such as Holland—a country deeply rooted in our traditions—the State, because it values the contribution ofthe churches and respects the divergent faith and views of Its many-sectioned population, actually contributes some 90% of the cost of buildings and tuition at private schools. Surely In South Africa that respect for the opinions of others should—especially because of our double ancestry—be given equal prominence! In Holland this freedom In education goes even further, for the State does not have any say in the appointment of staff in private schools and gives the greatest freedom to the Boards of Management to run these schools on their own lines. Even in cases where there is a dispute between say, inspector and school, the matter is not settled by a Government department, but by an educational council, a body fully independent of the Government. Admittedly, this is a more expensive form of education, but it does the job —I submit—far better than our own system in South Africa does where political considerations so often gravely jeopardise true education. If we in the private schools can be assisted as we should be, we can do an even better job than we are at present doing, and the nation, as such, must benefit. Further, the powers that be might look into this as one of the ways to make conditions more satisfactory for the profession, for It may help to stimulate thus the recruitment, which Is such a grave matter of national moment. Edu cational councils independent of politics and bureaucratic control In the provinces and in the State will do much to raise the status of the teaching profession and assist In the smooth running of the educational machine. Of more homely matters, there are a few to which I wish to draw the attention of parents. The Matriculation Board insists—and rightly, because success in this examina tion is still the best objective test of a candidate's potentiality for a successful university career that has so far been devised (though a new series of tests 275
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