SALUTING THE FLAG.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17293, 3 November 1921, Page 9

SALUTING THE FLAG.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF • EDUCATION. (press association telegram.) "WELLINGTON, November 2. The Minister of Education (the Hon C. J. Parr), questioned aa to whether ho had como to any decision inregarc to children who refuse to f»luie the flag, mid: "A circular has been sent Education Boards, and will appear in the next issue of the. 'ifidui-a-tion Gazette.' This intimates that ! any child who rel'raina from talcing part in patriotic observances ciusi< "bring if note -from his parents tlml 11is their wish that the child shall t-uM no' part. Teachers. will uko lie. in formed that Mich child should not be exempted' directly, and should nx.t oe ullowed to separate hiniEclf from other children during any eeromony. ■ ahe objecting child will f.imply remain among his fellow s, inactive. 1 feel sure that if touchers tactfully -liandlo the matter tihe few children concerned will soon briny; such pressure to on their .paroots that,, in the inujoi,t v of eases, they will be allowed to icaii with the other children as they most I naturally wish to do. '.livery c'H.d' loves ! to joiu in a ceremony ol tliid kind with his follows. A parent ia 1 <alJy ciuol to his child when he instructs I im to stand out. It is the parents who arc to blame, not the Ohild, and it would He » mistake to penalise in any way a cfiiltl because lw ha 3 wrong-hcudod aud inisguided parents, who persist ih staying in New Zealand under the British tjmj, nnd enjoying all vl.e privileges ef uritish citizens-nip, yet are absolutely disloyal. Mr Malcolm's suggestion that parents should hu disfranchised is on/a tluit we may vet have to consider. Tlid best thing, however, is to Jeavo ' the) matter largely to the tact of teachbrt and t'ho public opinion of the playground. Most of the cases of difficulty] ! will soon disappear. It can then be* I considered whether in tli© small number remaining any action should be taken.