RULING SOUGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1940, Page 6

RULING SOUGHT.

SALUTING THE FLAG.

OBSERVANCE IN SCHOOLS. REQUEST TO MINISTER. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. A request to the Minister of Education, Mr. Mason, to issue a ruling on the subject of the saluting of the flag daily by school children hat been made by Mr. T. K. Moody, chairman of the Miramar South School Committee.

Mr. Moody pointed out in a letter to the Minister that the Dominion Federation of School Committees of New Zealand at its sixth annual conference last year recommended that local associations ask their headmasters' association* to revive the practice of saluting the flag and singing the National Anthem tn schools where this was not already done; the motion had emphasised that this was not jingoism.

In reply Mr. Moody received the following letter from the Education Department, signed by Mr. A. F. McMurtrie, for the Director of Education:—

"I have been directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter of June 1 addressed to the Minister, and in reply I have to advise you that the sylUbu? of instruction for public school* includes the following:—

(a) The head teacher shall give attention to the development of a good tone, or corporate life, and of the patriotic sentiment.

(b) The narrow nationalistic interpretation of history should be avoided • • • there should be sedulously cultivated a strong faith in a more peaceful, harmonious and prosperous world . . • every opportunity that occurs through annual commemoration should be utilised to inculcate in the minds of the young love for the country and a desire to promote peace among nations . . . national anthems and national eongs (of aH nations) can always be used. Patriotic Ideals. In addition, each education board usually hae a by-law requiring teachers to assemble pupils to salute the flag on appropriate days. "It would eeem, therefore, that ample opportunity is given teachers to inculcate in their pupils' minds love of country and patriotic ideals.

"Anything your committee could do to assist the teachers, to further the objects as outlined in the above extract of the syllabus would be appreciated."

Inquiries showed that the Wellington Education 'Board has a by-law requiring teachers to assemble children to ealuto the flag on appropriate days.

The motion which was carried by the federation arose from a discussion on remarks made by the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis, when he welcomed the delegates. He said then that he thought the time had come when the question of saluting the flag should be brought up

in the schools of the Dominion. It was good for the children that they should be taught what the flag stood for and why men were prepared to sacrifice their lives, if need be, for the flag.

Mr. Moody said last night that it appeared that the paid servants of the public dominated the position in regard to such a practice as whether or not the flag should be saluted daily. For this reason he had asked the Minister to tesue an edict on the matter.