Summary: An Army Bureau of Current Affairs film comparing the old system of education with the advantages of the new subsequent to the Butler Education Act, 1944.
Description: L/S of Hitler with fake accent on voiceover. L/S of Hitler Youth. English schoolchildren on their way to school. Bad conditions in schools eg. overcrowded classrooms, children playing near railway lines; rural children walking to school. Children in Harefield/Northwood. Evacuation of children during the war, public education in the cities was cut. Children deteriorated physically, mentally, spiritually and morally when their schools were closed eg. they played in the street, on the underground, smoked and stole. Diagram of old system indicating that only one child in seven previously received secondary education. Diagram of new system where education to tertiary level is free. Boys seen in woodwork class, girls in cooking class. Physically/mentally handicapped children at school eg boy with one leg. Smaller classes of children learning outside in the sunshine. Rugby College Day Continuation as an example of further education eg. girls typing on Smith and Corona typewriters; life drawing classes. Retention of public schools though opinion divided; advantages seen in examples like Montgomery, Churchill and Clement Attlee; disadvantages portrayed as solitary lazy drinkers and the old boy network. Outline of Butler Education Act. Fleming report on public school makes it available to the poor for free. Dissolves of technological advances within education eg. science, music. newly built schools and children playing in school fields and doing PT.
