Letters to the Editor
l'oulmin says, nobody seems to know what to o about the shortage of science teachers. Government and industry have certainly Woken up to the value of scientific research; but what are government's and industry's chances of getting a stream of able scientists if the schools are to make do with third- rate science teachers—and mathematics teachers, for these are equally scarce ? Industry is uneasily aware of this problem and, though ways and means are difficult, . one may still hope that Mr. Toulmin's jaunty I. , teadiness to accept defeat is premature. Mr. Toulmin under-estimates the difficul- ties that will face the schools if the shortage continues. They need only, he would have " us believe, reduce specialisation. A good secondary school is first of all a place where Mind meets mind. When capable mathe- ' rnaticians and scientists are missing from a ichool staff, the range of intelligences the Pupils come in touch with is seriously nar- rowed. Especially for the best pupils, "a pod general background" is not enough,
and in the hands of second-rate teachers may Well be achieved at high cost in the blunting
intellectual curiosity, in the omission to Oster latent qualities, or in the failure to Observe and draw out hesitant abilities. For the really able boy or girl in the 'teens, the rime need is alert, sensitive, and highly prime teaching. What makes the bright galith major seek a vocation which will stretch his capacities to the very limit, and find growing distaste for the life of a smart illPer-salesman or a clever careerist? 'After the home, the secondary school, especially if 't sets him among minds and personalities !Ian command his admiration and respect. Reduce the intellectual quality of the secon- dary school staff and you impair, most erl'Alsly, the quality of the young people it sends forth.
Nor is it only in science and mathematics that the schools are failing to attract able x,nl'ell and women. A recent report of the "ational Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers (H.M.S.O., November, 1953) notes that of students completing rIIaining to teach subjects other than these, L 1938 74 per cent. had first or second class honours but in 1953 only 62 per cent. Industry, in fact, besides waking up to the value of scientific research, has also wakened LIP to the value of first-rate ability, whether nourished on Physics or French or Philosophy.
„ If ways and means are not worked out, Tose university science teachers who wish to vl° so will in due course be teaohing at more elementary levels—as also, willy-nilly, their colleagues in science and in other depart- Terns. Across the Atlantic industrialists 'Woke long ago to the advantage of attracting b Settle ininto industry instead of letting them in the schools. In consequence, University staffs teach "from the first floor UP" not only science but mathematics and 'aglish and Latin and French. It is not 14,8Y to maintain standards in a university Which has to teach elementary English 11„raiumar and fourth form French. But let s",roake no doubt of this—if our secondary cuuol standards drop, our university stan-
dards, though at a lag of half a generation perhaps, will drop also.
This matter affects the quality of the whole of education in these islands. It is not the part of wisdom to dismiss it quite so lightly as Mr. Toulmin does.—Yours faithfully,
House of Commons
MALCOLM MACPHERSON
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