SIR,—There is much justice in your comments on this subject.
But are you not overlooking two grave dangers that threaten the nation's welfare in the long view ? A change in the age of transfer from primary to secondary schools, as foreshadowed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will shorten the secondary-school course. Not only will this be almost equivalent to lowering the school age, but its effect will be particularly apparent among those children turned out by the grammar schools, and it is they who play a vital part in our economio life. Further, the Minister has revealed that the number and value of State and local authority scholarships to the universities are under review; that is to say, they are likely to be reduced. If this has the effect, as it must, of depriving suitably qualified boys and girls of the opportunity of a university education, the supply of potential leaders of the future will be diminished.
Few can be optimistic enough to believe that our present difficulties will not persist for many years. Can we afford, for the sake of an immediate economy, to risk failing to develop all those intellectual resources on which we shall depend for the maintenance and consoli- dation of our economic recovery ?—Yours faithfully, B. B. CAUSER.
The Wall House, Curbridge Road, Witney, Oxon.
Previous page
