SCHOOL CHILDREN’S RED CROSS EFFORT

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23100, 16 August 1940, Page 14

SCHOOL CHILDREN’S RED CROSS EFFORT

5 TO THE EDITOR OF THE fBESS. a Sir, —I was amazed to read in "The Press" 40-day-the motion moved by a b representative of the Somerfield i School, at yesterday's meeting of the ; School Committees'' Association, that 2 collections for the Red Cross by school - children be disallowed. I was also - pleased to see that this view was not 1 generally accepted. » I do'-not think that the sentiments - expressed were those of the majority of Somerfield School parents. I consider that our headmasters and teachers are doing a great service to our nation and children, by trying to impress on the young mind its obligation to its country and Empire. Surely we cannot look upon it as a tax or burden to help the children of Canterbury to buy ■an ambulance. If only one life is '> saved'as a result of this ambulance's ' work, it will have been well worth while, and the children will be well 1 repaid. i May I congratulate the teachers and , school children of Canterbury on their wonderful achievement in ■already having raised sufficient funds for their objective?— Yours, etc., R. G. BELL, Somerfield, August. 15, 1940. TO THE : EDITOB. 01". THE .PEESS. Sir,—lt was most pleasing to read in "The Press" -to-day the enlightened opinions' of those -delegates -to the School Committees' Association who took a"deflnite' stand~against-the practice of asking school children to collect funds for war .purposes." In the'first instance it is the duty- of the State to ' provide for ""the armed forces' every* need, and, there can be.no justification whatever'for the soldier, "sailor, or airman having to. be- dependent-upon the efforts of school children JEoA the proyteontf - .

'.TVlueh has been said to convey.-the idea that the money collected through the schools has been- collected by way of acts of self-sacrifice on the part of the children: ThoseMwho have looked at the scheme in. operation know that this is 90 per cent, mythical. What has been-happening: is that the competitive l.spirit has been worked up among the children 'to a" surprising degree, and parents .have been paying the bill. Iri any' case any .. appeal -for funds made' through children is and,' however unintentionally, savoiirs of bribery..As Mr R.H. Hudson mildly put it,. "J had to give any children something; because I did-not want them to.feel outsiders." It. would, be interesting to learn; just how. many the highest taxed units in> the land—were soiorced to pay up.—Yours, etc., .'-■•• •' ■ ■ PARENT. August 15, 1940. • ,