Social, civic and moral attitudes in the New Zealand School Journal, 1907-1937.

Abstract

What social attitudes does our education system seek to impart? To answer this question fully would involve an examination of our entire education system, the social setting which makes New Zealand individual and unique, and our culture in the broadest sense. The task could not be attempted in a thesis - its size would only lead to diffuse and vague generalizations It is necessary to narrow down the focus to one part of the subject. This thesis approaches the question by way of a study of our chief text-book - The New Zealand School Journal. Text books show clearly the social attitudes of an education system. Education authorities who choose text - books express their attitudes by their choice and so impart their attitudes to the children, for, in general, text - books are accepted uncritically by teachers and pupils. In New Zealand this is clearly illustrated by the school Journal. Generally regarded as a reader, it is actually a kind of omnibus text - book on a wide range of subjects. It is rich in material intended to from social attitudes; but this is not to say that the Journal has a clear and consistent social attitudes.