The primary School : an exploratory case study of parents' attitudes and expectations

Abstract

This study is concerned with the attitudes and expectations parents from a predominantly state housing settlement hold for the education their children receive in primary schools. It is now twelve years since the Commission on Education in New Zealand published its report. New Zealand Commission on Education, Report of the Commission on Education in New Zealand. The Currie Report. Wellington Government Printer, 1962. Since 1962, some changes which were already taking place when the Commission met, and others which the Commission recommended, have resulted in a number of new approaches being tried to achieve educational aims and develop teaching practices in the primary school. A thorough re-evaluation of all aspects of education in this country is at present being organised. Under the guidance of the Advisory Council for Educational Planning, a conference was organised during 1972 to establish future aims and priorities for education during the nineteen seventies into the nineteen eighties. The meeting brought together a number of New Zealanders as well as overseas speakers in what was called, "The Educational Priorities Conference". However, before the proceedings and recommendations from the Educational Priorities Conference were reported publicly, a change of government brought the present Labour Party into office. There followed a move to bring all sections of the community into discussion and debate, which was intended to aid the government in selecting its priorities for educational planning. Educational planning was conceived of as a "grass roots" democratic process through which public opinion could help mould the services the state system of education sought to offer. The Advisory Council for Educational Planning (A.C.E.P) has organised the Educational Development Conference which is in progress at present. The organisation of the Conference is set out in Lets Talk Education, Wellington, Government Printer, 1974.