ABSTRACT
Pressure for some university training is interpreted as both properly ambitious and wisely defensive, since it would grant to non-graduate teachers the status that would secure their position as teachers in secondary schools. The growing strength of pressure from teachers, parents and pupils was reflected in the proposals submitted in October 1968 to the Council of State by the Commission on School Life which the Minister had set up in July following the student riots. The importance of socio-economic factors in determining the pupil's achievement in school is fully appreciated. But the very success of the campaign for a middle school may itself weaken the primary school. Improvement of the primary school seems an inadequate response to the demand for increased competitiveness. In 1968, after a period of prosperity, industrial expansion, technological development and high national prestige, a new dimension of opposition manifested itself.
