NATIONAL EDUCATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 304, 20 December 1912, Page 4

NATIONAL EDUCATION.

DEFENCE UEAG-T-TS CA__PAfft^ The affirmations of the N-tkoii Education Defence League hare bern approved by the executive. They are it follows:— (1) That education being a recognised duty and a function of the State, __ system must of necessity be free, tees. lar, and compulsory. (2) That the introduction of a icn> tural text book and the granting of tie right of entry to religious teachgrj _. ing school hours would violate the e_M. tial principles of our national system oi education. (3) That the introduction of reßgioni text books would impose upon teacher! | duty for which they are not nece__i» qualified, and would constitute a nligious test for an office under the State. (4) Any proposals to grant State _d to either primary or secondary sdkS-, owned or controlled by private i_t_t_ tions or religious denominations eo__itutes a direct menace to our preseat national system of education, and the demands being made by the BiHe-iii-Schools League, if acceded to, win ineT_ably open the way to such pi-posak. At a meeting of the executive tie president (Mr. W. J. Speight) in the e__r, the Publications Committee Tr_j instructed to prepare a manifesto tor euiv issue Correspondence was receivei'n_i the secretary of the United ___•_■ party, Auckland branch, express!agnapathy with the platform of the Leapt, . and nominating Mr. H. L Horning isita ' representative for campaign j_pa__ i resolution was carried to" arrange _rf.i Dominion eonierence in Weßingtoi *a February to thoroughly -organise _t whole Domini cm in opposrti-n"" _? tin propaganda now being ai_ieds_ir fi_ breaking down of the present sjiUs of ed-cation in New Zealand. _"____ applications for the hearing of deputations were received from ; eoiattf districts, aud replies were tabled fr_a a large number of prominent ge__e__a in Auckland, intimating their v*__lrness to accept office in the League. Tie execut-v_ was acquainted with the fict that leagues had been formed is W_ ingion, Ch-istchurch, Trmarn, aid Bbbi edtn.