Pressure Groups Run U.S. Primary Schools, States British Official

Pressure groups make the administration of lower education in America difficult, a British educational official said yesterday.

Tobias R. Weaver, Head of the Information Branch of the London Ministry of Education, has been observing the American educational system for three months, under a Smith--Mundt State Department grant. During this time he has observed a basic difference between British and American school set-ups.

In England," said Weaver, "schools are more remotely governed. Here, there is a greater belief in local citizen control, and a greater pressure on school administration."

He commented that the job of school superintendent in America was extremely difficult, with strong PTA organizations, religious and other local pressure groups trying to impose their policies.

Weaver said also that he had seen cases of Academic freedom violations, both in large universities and smaller school systems. He could point to nothing like this in the English system.

According to Weaver, another difference in comparative education is the greater emphasis on religious training in lower English schools. By law, elementary schools in Great Britain must give non-denominational religious training.

He also commented that 75% of British college students receive total or partial educational scholarships from the government.

We select our university students by their intellectual qualifications." Weaver said. "If students do not have the ability, they leave school at the ages of 15 or 16.