advertisements painted on both plural and white buses where many people can see them. In fact many people can inform you of his great dedication to the country's con tinued financial well-being. Truly, Minister Rhoodie is a great man, and one to be admired. IRVINE - 5A Entrants in this year's McLeod Essay contest were asked to write an Editorial which would be interesting and controversial.The winning entry is printed here. Education in South Africa "Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe," said Herbert George Wells and this is nowhere more true than in South Africa today. Situated on the end of the African continent we cannot afford the luxury of being divided due to misunderstanding. This country has tremendous potential but we need to be taught how this may be realised. The responsibility lies with the schools and they must be ready to meet the challenge. Are they equipped to do so? As far as black education is concerned the answer is "No!" The de Lange Committee, which was established to investigate this anomaly, has stated as its first and major principle that, "Equal opportunities for education, includ ing equal standards in education, for every inhabitant, irrespective of race, colour, creed or sex, shall be the en deavour of the state." This is an acknowledgement that black education is at a grave disadvantage. The facts speak for themselves. 1. Fewer than 60 percent of blacks entering school finish four years of schooling. 2. Only 40 percent of those who begin, complete their primary school education. 3. Less than 5 percent complete secondary education to standard ten. This is a reflection of the appalling state of black educa tion. It is inferior because it is separate, isolated by apart heid, from facilities and resources which should be available to all. This inferiority has led to one million blacks between the ages of seventeen and twenty-six only possessing a standard two level of education. Even most of the black matriculants are ill-prepared and unable to compete in technical and commercial fields. This is not due to any lack of ability, for it has been seen at Wits University that many black students are doing better than their white counter parts. The fault lies in the standard of education. The solution to the gap in black and white education lies in a common education system. Nothing else will gain the acceptance of the majority of South Africans for any other attempt at reforming black education is likely to be regard ed with suspicion. Nothing else will remove the taints of discrimination and inferiority and ensure equal distribution of manpower and money to all. South Africa is unable to afford the duplication of expensive facilities and an inte grated system will contribute to giving everyone a greater sense of belonging. It is indeed unfortunate that many people view a common education system as a danger to their culture - to their religion, values and philosophies. In many cases these are merely excuses and the real reason is one of selfishness. We are simply not prepared to forgo the benefits and pleasures which the status quo gives us. We have to compre hend the urgency of the situation and realise that this attitude is detrimental to the future of South Africa. Kearsney, along with many other private schools, has taken the initiative and its doors are open to all people, re gardless of colour or creed. (Girls are still not allowed though!) It is unfortunate that the high school fees have prevented many people from making the most of this chance. What is needed is for all schools in South Africa to be made open to everyone.This will not be easy and coping with various religious groups may prove to be a problem. The most important point to grasp is that the character of the schools will remain the same and there will continue to be schools of differing quality. Parents will now be able to choose the standard of education they want for their children and education will in turn be able to fulfil one of its most important functions, namely,that of enabling men and women to influence their social standing depending on their will to succeed. People will have the chance to im prove on their background,for education is the great leveller. As it now stands, even the white education system is considered to be inferior by Western standards. Many people consider it to be too narrow, old-fashioned and limiting on students. We must always bear in mind the alms of an education. Herbert Spencer said "Education has for its object the formation of character." It thus adds to a person's appreciation of his cultural heritage, it helps Its pupils adjust to change,to think independently,and finally become useful members of society. The humanists believe that the duty of a teacher is "to help their students examine their emotional needs and desires and then en courage them to acquire the knowledge and skills to fulfil them. This is the ideal situation and it is unfortunate that attempts to attain this ideal, in many Western countries, have gone sadly astray. It is obvious a balance is needed between a system which produces a set of conditioned "robots"and one which pro duces people concerned only with their personal happiness. We are living in a technological age where items are becom ing obsolete almost as soon as they are off the production line, so it is vital for pupils to be able to reason for them selves and judge critically. We must also not forget that we are living in a world torn by hatred, jealousy and violence and that a group of self-centred young adults can cause ultimate destruction. What then is the answer? The solution lies in a school which disciplines its pupils, expecting and obtaining a high degree of respect and obedience while also, through the medium of various clubs and societies, offering them the chance to broaden their outlook on life. Much of a good education Is not that which occurs within the classroom, for syllabuses ensure equal standards to a large extent, but rather that which occurs on the sports field. In the dormitories and in society meetings. It is here that the artificial situation of the classroom is removed and pupils are able to discover where they stand in relation to the rest of the world. Kearsney is a successful school because it has been able to incorporate many of these aspects into its constitution. It is not the perfect answer and it has its share of faults, but overriding these is the dedication of staff. They use a variety of teaching methods and encompass a fair portion of the teaching spectrum, but they have faith in their methods. Kearsney has much to offer the young man but he must realise this for himself. An education Is only as good as a person is prepared to make it and it Is tragic to hear of people who express the wish that they had involved themselves more at school.The young man should enter the system and in the words of the Kearsney motto, he should "Sieze the opportunity." He may never have another. P. CAZALET Form VI 38
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