“Where are the engineers?” asked S V Kerr of Strathclyde following a report from the National Economic Development Office (TESS, March 19, 1976): It is in the primary schools that the seeds of prejudice against mathematics and science are sown and nurtured, albeit unknowingly. On top of all this, most primary teachers are women and, in common with their sisters in most walks of life in Britain, they have little idea of what is meant by either technology or engineering. What is worse, the little idea they do have is often wrong. . .

If our place in the international league is to be maintained. . . a continuous supply of able young men and women must be available . . .

school teachers should be rid of the idea that pupils who are not “good enough” for law or medicine or whatever should instead read engineering.