Aranui Unanimously For School Cadets

Press, Volume C, Issue 29469, 22 March 1961, Page 17

Aranui Unanimously For School Cadets

A unanimous vote of confidence in his policy of cadet training in school hours was secured by the headmaster of the Aranui High School (Mr W. J. A. Brittenden) from his board of governors last evening. Mr Brittenden tabled a considered statement strongly supporting the value of such training.

“I don’t want any sitting on the fence on this issue,” Mr Brittenden said. “There is too much of that just now. My own attitude is that there is soon going to be a Ministerial pronouncement on this matter or else the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association is going to seek opinions. Our views need to be stated firmly”.

Mr Brittenden said he has prepared a statement which, in its preamble, “might smack of Colonel Blimp” but, he thought, all aspects of the issue should be stated to justify his viewpoint. It was supported by his senior staff.

Mr Brittenden’s statement said:—

"The value of cadet training in schools is being discussed once again and the future of the New Zealand Cadet Corps is by no means certain. It seems useful, therefore, to offer some personal comments on this matter as the board may be called on, in the near future, to consider a policy for this school.

"Military training, at least in its voluntary aspects, is (as it was in the period between the wars) the subject of considerable adverse criticism. Fortunately there were, then, people of the calibre of the late Sir Howard Kippenberger and others, who persevered with the territorials, in spite of discouragement and difficulties, with the result that on the outbreak of war there were cadres of men capable of acting as instructors or of forming the nuclei of units for overseas service. It is nonsense to suggest that men can be trained as soldiers in a few weeks (as they were, to a point, in 1939-46) if there is not available a large body of men capable of training and maintaining the additional troops required in an expanding war-time army.

"Last time, cadet officers—many of whom made firstclass front-line leaders—proved invaluable in the early days of the war in training and administrative capacities. It is also a fact that, in general, men with good cadet training as a background. qualified as n.c.o.’s and junior officers in the citizen army more quickly than did others without this experience.

"There is no certainty that in any war in which (heaven forbid) we might be engaged will be fought with nuclear weapons. The many post-war conflicts have not been so fought. One remembers. too, that there was a mutual reluctance in World War II to use gas. Nor has there been any suggestion by the Government that, in the event of war, we should sit down placidly and wait to be annihilated by H-bombs or saved by the Americans. Place for Cadets "Until that happens I consider there must be a place for the cadet system as a means of giving preliminary experience to our young men in some aspects of military training—to take orders, to work as a team, to develop (even to a limited degree) latent ability in leadership. It is for these reasons, how-

ever, rather than on the implications expressed above that justification for having cadets at Aranui High School is based. I have seen too many boys find confidence in themselves and develop a better bearing through cadets to agree that ‘cadets are a complete waste of time.’ “The success of a Cadet Corps depends primarily on the quality and enthusiasm of its commander (or its adjutant) and of its junior n.c.o.’s. To my mind a cadet unit is reaching its full value when a relatively small part is played by the officers. Where cadets are a ’waste of time' it will usually be found that poor planning and direction by the school and inadequate n.c.o. training are the causes. Limited practical assistance or lack of co-opera-tion from the services can also induce a sense of frustration and the ham-string-ing of a worthwhile programme.

"The best time for training. I consider, is a monthly half-day in the first and third terms. This can be done without cutting into the hours of instruction required by Department of Education regulations. The half-day not only allows of the most efficient use of the time available (compared with a weekly 45 minute period), but also presents, in the case of co-educational schools, an excellent opportunity for girls to be given special training in cultural subjects, lectures in hygiene, courses in Red Cross work, life-saving, dancing, and the like. After Hours “The ‘voluntary’ system (i.e. cadet training out .of school time) does not appeal to me at all. There is no reason to suppose that the response would be any greater than that accorded the territorials, and I imagine the Forces would be unwilling to commit themselves to the support of units which might ‘fold up’ overnight. It is expecting a great deal of boys to ask them to withstand the importuning of their fellows who take the easier way of not voluntarily giving up their own time. Further, the weight of organisation would fall on the shoulders of one or two masters, probably heavily burdened with other important and time-consuming extracurricular activities.

"So far as the cadet syllabus is concerned my own desire is to see all the boys pass through the medical unit; to be instructed in the correct handling of the rifle (with resultant benefit to

future deer-stalkers) and to be given an opportunity to have some experience in one of the special practical subunits such as engineers, signals and AT.C. That some of the equipment used is obsolescent is not a serious weakness. It is new to the boys and gives them a chance to try their teeth on interesting mechanical equipment Moreover the object of cadets is not to train soldiers as such. I should object if it were so. "The experiment, tried in Southland, of introducing training in civil defence as a part of cadet work certainly appeals but I should strongly advocate the inclusion of girls in this activity. “The principles of the Outward Bound movement could also be adopted, in part, with great advantage but, for obvious reasons, I cannot see this idea being introduced on a full scale into public schools. "Suspended Animation”

“While one appreciates the difficulties of Army and other services it is a fact that the Cadet Corps has been in and out of favour according to the commitments of the regular forces and the money available for use in the schools. Cadet policy is in a state of suspended animation at present as Army watches the number of secondary schools increase at such a rapid rate. Expansion is frozen with the result that we cannot get materials with which to build a rifle range. Nor can we obtain official permission to organise a medical platoon. “With the exception of two second-year and two firstyear pupils all our boys take part in cadets while 10 masters are engaged in the work. As a measure of their interest I can report that last year 60 per cent, of the unit volunteered to join the n.c.o. training unit. In their first year all boys do a basic training course while the secondyears all cover a syllabus in fieldcraft, medical, weapon training and resuscitation. An A.T.C. flight has also been formed. “I should like to add that co-operation from the commander, Area 10, and his staff has been willing and most helpful at all times.” Quick Support “I congratulate the headmaster and agree wholeheartedly with everything he has said,” said Mr F. J. Gracie. “I’ll move that we approve,” said Mr R. D. Neale. “I second that,” said Mr G. A. Shouksmith. (Mr Brittenden seemed surprised at this quick-fire response. He had said earlier that he could write down the names of those for and against.) The chairman (Mr D. H. Hemsley) said he agreed with Mr Brittenden’s statements on the ends to be achieved, but he just could not reconcile the teaching of “brotherly love in social studies and putting a Bren gun into cadets’ hands.”

“Guns are not the important aspect of this,” said Mr Shouksmith. “The big thing is that there is a period in the school programme when pupils learn strict self-disci-pline and control. This is an almost undisciplined world. You can’t even discipline a kid properly at school nowadays. Another benefit is the encouragement of adventure and pride in bearing.” Mr Shouksmith said he was known to be a supporter of the Outward Bound movement. But that could not be offered to all. Cadets within the school system (and some similar activity for girls) did the young good. “I’d be the biggest pacifist out if the world would let me,” said Mr Shouksmith. “But with the world as it is I think cadet training can direct and use up a lot of the energy that is getting young people into trouble on the streets-” Mrs F. O. Bennett said she would be dishonest if she did not confess that she disliked school cadets’ military flavour. “But the pattern of a school and its spirit results largely from a headmaster’s genius and on those grounds I give my support for the motion.”