Letters: Education, transport, climate change protests, Richard ... - New Zealand Herald

Letters: Education, transport, climate change protests, Richard Dawkins and Elon Musk - NZ Herald

Inequality through education

Recent news items and letters to the Herald comment on the declining standard of the country’s education. A number of reasons are given and concern expressed at the long-term consequences for our social cohesion and ability to function as a first-world, liberal, progressive and high-tech country. Another consequence of this decline will be the increasing economic and social distinction between those with a state school education and therefore perceived to have a limited general academic ability, and those with a private school education where achievement and academic excellence are standards ingrained in their curriculum and will increasingly be the source of the country’s professional and administration groups. This is not a desirable outcome either socially or economically and is not conducive to maintaining a well-balanced and civil society. Allan M Spence, Waiuku.