ALLEGED SPREAD OF COMMUNISM

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23053, 22 June 1940, Page 7

ALLEGED SPREAD OF COMMUNISM

—O “ TEACHERS AS WHOLE DOING DUTY ” BOARD’S ATTITUDE TO DISLOYALTY “If there are disloyal teachers they should be identified, proceeded against, and very severely dealt with,' 1 said the chairman of the Canterbury Education Board (Mr G. W. Armitage) in making a statement for the board yesterday. References to Communistic and subversive elements in the education system were being made in the newspapers, Mr R. \Y,ild said at the board’s meeting yesterday. He asked if the chairman had anything to say about this in the Canterbury school district. “This is rather a serious matter,” Mr Armitage said, “but in these times we all believe in justice. “I think every Unjust suspicion spread at this time injures public unity and confidence, and helps the enemy,” he added. “I believe the teachers are doing, and will continue as a whole to do, their duty. They are a body of men and women of high ideals and lofty character. “But if there be among them a few misguided individuals who are teaching disloyalty or making subversive statements, then evidence should be brought forward enabling the board to take proper action and the teaching profession as a whole to be cleared. “That is a fair demand. If there be disloyal teachers they should be identified, proceeded against, and very severely dealt with. If any citizen in this town has evidence of subversive statements, and can give the board specific evidence, I hold that it is that citizen’s duty to do so, and we will take no uncertain steps.” Several members of the board thanked the chairman for his statement. Later in the meeting, when a report from the principal of the Christchurch Training College (Mr J. G. Poison) was received stating that the students had voted £SO towards war funds instead of spending the amount in tournament expenses, the chairman said that this constituted a good reply to those who alleged that teachers were disloyal.