INCULCATING LOYALTY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9372, 29 October 1921, Page 5

INCULCATING LOYALTY.

MINISTER OF EDUCATION SPEAKS OUT. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 28. The refusal of some children attending a .Wellington suburban school to take part m the ceremony of saluting the flag was mentioned m the House of Representatives to-day. The Minister of Education (the Hon. C. J. Parr) replied that he had received a report on the subject. V He could not remember the name of the school. Eleven children out of a total of twenty had refused to join m the little ceremony performed once a week. They were acting, no doubt, on the instructions of their parents. He would discuss the matter with the Director of Education and lay down the course of action he deemed necessary. Some time ago, continued the Minister, the Otago Education Board had asked the Department for its opinion on the case of two or three children who Had refused to join m the ceremony m an Otago school. This- had been the sole case m the school. (An hon. member: Hear, hear. They're Scotch). The Department, m reply to a question on the point, had advised the Board that the School Committee concerned would be within its rights jm refusing admission to the school to any child that refused to "salute the flag, y That^^ad vice { had not been an instruction/* '"The committee had desiredytp. know, its legal powerer He would make a pronouncement on the subject generally after consideration. Mr Parr added that it would be a very ; lamentable thing if any parents should object to their children joining m showing respect to the flag of their country. The ceremony took place once a week, after a lesson m history .and ciyics. It took place daily m some other countries, including Victoria and the United States. Every American teacher who refused to do his duty m the inculcation of sentiments of loyalty was summarily dismissed. (Hear, hear.) "There is no reason why we should play with this sort of thing m this country," said Mr Parr. (Hear, hear.) "I am afriad we have let this sort 6f thing go by default too often." Mr Holland: You cannot get over it by defaulting the children. Tire Minister: We should let i-.it be known that so long as^ the British flag flies over this country it has got to be respected. (Hear, hear,) One of the Labour members suggested that the Minister could deport the children. His remark laughter m the Labour benched.