Sep 1, 2019
Doomwatch: The Logicians (2.12, BBC, 1971)
"Our syllabus is completely comprehensive."
"Yes, but it cannot be adjusted to each individual - a computer can only deal with a mass. Whatever the problem, each child reacts in a different way. A computer isn't capable of recognising this."
"Doctor, we do have teaching staff as well, and we've already proven to us the value of our system. The children's behaviour patterns are excellent."
"A receptive child's mind, Mrs. Grantz, without any ethical guidance, has a terrifying potential. And what worries me, as director of Doomwatch, is that you don't seem to be aware of this."
#Doomwatch#The Logicians#Bbc#1971#Classic tv#John Paul#Simon oates#Jean trend#john nolan#Joby blanshard#Irene prador#George selway#John kelland#Peter duncan#Stanley lebor#Michael gover#Robin davies#Stuart knee#Noel johnson#Dennis spooner#David proudfoot#Good old Denny Spoons provides a script which typically for him concentrates more on the espionage adventure aspects of the series#But mixed in with that is an interesting critique of the new approaches to the sociology of education which were#Being discussed in the late 60s and early 70s. Schools were changing and approaches to education were changing with them#This was the era in which the work of Carl Rogers and Bloom and Piaget was really taking hold and the move away from behaviorism was in#Full swing. The best works on technology in education wouldn't be written for another decade or so (once again Doomwatch is ahead of the#Curve) but Spooner seems to have researched his field and in particular the influence of Summerhill School (the experimental private school#Which offered greater autonomy to students by treating them as colleagues rather than pupils and which was in the public eye in the#60s and 70s) is felt here. For all that groundwork it isn't the most exciting episode but it's solid and interesting enough. The end twist#Around the lead student having framed his father as insurance strategy is particularly mean but effective with it