SALUTING THE FLAG.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 142, 17 June 1922, Page 15

SALUTING THE FLAG.

POSITION Or PRIVATE SCHOOLS

•STATE CAXXOX INTERFERE,

(From Our Specie! Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, Juue 7. - The Government finds it has no power of interference with nonpublic echools as regards the enforcement of loyal ceremonial. Neither has the Government power to take action regarding Dr. O'Reilly. Rector of the Roman Catholic College at the University, who says he is a "rebel" but not a* "disloyalist."

Although Dr. O'Rcillv receives £500 a year from the Government, aa rector of St. John's College, the Government has no voice in his occupancy of the position.

The XoOO is an endowment provided under the University Act, nnd could only be interfered with by Parliament. Tlie college is governed bv'a council consisting of IS Fellows, of "whom cix must he priests.

A loyal ceremony is carried out in many non-public school's, but any Kiieb procedure is disregarded in others. Departmental inspector* periodically visit nonpublic schools to ascertain that the standard educational syllabus in Using adhered to, but. though this syllabus includes religion* and civic instruction, there is nothing about saluting tlie flag or any similar ceremonial. LOYALTY OF STATE TEACHERS. No further action was decided on yesterday by the Government concerning the opposition of public school teachers to the flag-saluting ceremony. Mr. Bruntnell (Minister of Education) announced, however that the formula is to he maintained, and that the full support of teachers i« expected. Inquiry Is being made as to whether there is any number of teachers who refuse to subscribe to the formula, after which a course u f action will be decided ou. with a. view to ensuring the loyalty of all public school teacher*. One case of avowed disloyalty has been reportedOn the other hand, many teachers are writing to the Department, approving of the ceremony, and describing further efforts. In some schools the ceremony is being carried out, not once a wee*, but daily. Hie children at one school sing.— Keep tlie tjD'.on J.cU flying— No Red Flag for us. CUSTOM IK VICTORIA. Mr. Bruntnell, commenting on the motion carried by the Teachers' Federation, said there must be some misapprehension on the matter. "In Victoria," lie said, "the ceremony of saluting the flag in all public schools) has been observed every Monday morning since 180$. It is carried out according to the following regulation: 'In the ceremony of saluting the flag the boys should salute and the girls stand to attention, all present uncovering their heads, then all the children, placing their right hand on their left breast, should say the following words simultaneously: "I love God and my country. I honour the flag, I will aerve the King, and cheerfully obey my parents, teachers, and the laws."' "After considering tlie whole matter fully, and for the purpose of securing uniformity of action throughout our schools, I adopted a ahorter and more simple formula, and, judging by the letters of appreciation received from large numbers of teachers and parents, the method adopted by mc has been highly appreciated. "The whole formula seems to mc to be so thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the school curriculum, which includes Scripture teaching, and with precedent in this and other countr.ea. that I am at a loss to understand the objections. "A case, however, has been report2d to mc in which a teacher refuses to acknowledge either God, King, or to salute any other than the rod flag. I have no hesitation in aaying that, in mv opinion, a person with such views is utterly unfit for teaching our children, and I am equally sure that the Teachers' Federation would give no countenance to such views. .__._, "Tbe formula will be maintained, and 1 expect to receive the full support of the teaflhew of New South Wales who. T feel sure, when they sing our National Anthem, 'God Save the King,' realise what it recojrniscs, and loyally endorse its sentiment."