NOTES ON EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 131, 26 February 1908, Page 4

NOTES ON EDUCATION.

(By feocnATES.)

CADETS IN CAMP. A Press Association telegram from Auckland, dated February 21, served to bring tho public school cadet movement onco nioro into prominonce. It would appear I'roiii tho report, that tho Auckland school tojehers object to cadet encampmonts, and tlioy aro supported in the attitude tlioy havo taken up by tho elorgy of the district. So far as tho teachors themselves are concerned tho objec-

tion,' as expressed by their representatives, tho Auckland District Teachers' Institute, is that the Education Board has no right to insist upon tho specific performance by tlio teachers of a particular duty ontsido of school hours. Tho Committco of tho Instituto has written to tho Board, asking that tho circular calling upon teachers to assist in tho proposed cadet encampment, and making tho atItendanco of at least one teacher from each school compulsory bo withdrawn; Tho elorgy of tho district havo apparently lent weight to tho teachers' sido or tho question, by condemning, in categorical torms, school cadet camps, and inviting tho assistance of the Institute; in protesting emphatically against tho holding of such camps. . The chaplains o ftho local Volunteer Forces also-took united action in the matter, and' waited upon the chairman of the Education Board with reference d their objections, to the proposal to 'extend the. period of tho encampment over Sunday. '■ i - 1

That, in brief, is the position. The incident is of .some importanco, and worthy of .ijioro than passing commont. / In tho first placo, thero is, in tho cadet regulations no obligation, either expressed or implied, laid upon any local educational authority with respcct to tho holding of a school cadot encampment.'' It is a matter concerning which Education Boards are at liberty to pleaso' themselves.. It is important to romembcr this, for thero is nothing to bo gained for tho' cadot movement by forcing upon those whoso duty.it is to foster it, a number of unnecessary duties. ' I'. ' ■'. , ' - Tho argument put forward by Lieut.-Colo-,nfel 'Loveday,' officer commanding tho N.Z. PublicVSchbol.Cadots, that.with'similar camps in'.', Wellington ,'.-,Christclnircli iand. clsewhoro, headmasters had-.expressed'-.tho opinion that ■the : boys had' ; benefited mpr'ally/and intellectually; is',.nothing "'to tho point. :;' .. •'■ -~ With regard ; to tho camp itself, its educational is of such trifling importance that any discussibri'upoh tho question of holding a camp need not : tako this factor into, consideration.'Almost everything of. a military naturo which , may bo learnt in a cadet camp' may also be picked, up by a cadet company on its own parade ground. Tho sum total of,tho points in its favour may bo said to bo s two, namely, - that it gives a boy-so'mo ided: of camp' routine, and,.that it alFords .that spico j 7 of novelty which is dear to, the-'averago; boy's heart. These things, however, have no place 'in'the school .curriculum. ' ■ " ■ ■' ,] .Thero is therefore no question ;of a bumf ing necessity, about, the '-ntatjior ; at, all. .• It l is to be . fearecl' that- the cadet''-movement is ! .by.'oxcesß of enthusiasnr ;by:, th'o';:want one' but a military; zealot'-;will, .suggest - '..'.that a well drilledjf.intelligently cadot company!;.• which', ;has .given VdubLattentipn /to' exercise,, v'.foitpanymovements, shooting',''.'ttiid'.'somoelementary.;• tactics 'in out', tho rcqWrementsiprescribedX by /.the regulations for. the/teaching of military .drill in schools; and when time comes-for an' official review of th'e.hvhole.'questibn/ if bo possible for the 1 authorities'tb- reflect'' wisely, that 'a little,'well' hotter than an ..attempt to 'nl'agnify.; ideals/to such an extent that; the diin^er;;^''.a;.i l confljetbotweon; the 'public and--' a of: : $ , /.•'"•There is no n^-';fbf ; ''oad^t ,; Dattalioris,H'and > less ;need-'for cadet camps/ /If 'a.'!toacher;,cah (take- a company, of. cadet's nil Hand and; inspire them with such a; degrbp; of •enthusiasm that military drill will attractive to. them that they willl'ultimately associate .themselves with the • volmit&rpj,j ; b.e-. will done his country an infinito'/sefyicb.' ' . > Tho 'writer does not wish fit; bo understood; from tho foregoing' rtmartVthat cadet camps should not bp heldH-hb;'simply.' has endeavoured to show" thaV'thbrb' is no'need for them. ,If, however, .thero is' no obstacle in the way of a cadet oncampinent,'by. all means organise ,ono.' Further,thoro/need be no apprehension on tho part of tho public as to.the moral dangors of such''a proceeding—if the. camp is efficiently supervised -by responsible; teachers.' ' The attitndo of, tho Auckland clergy is certainly not; very complimentary to tho teaching profession,.'and it is rather somb'.'of its niem T bers havo not publicly resented-it. If tho truth; of the arguments raised, by tho clergy is admitted by the teachers, then it is to bo feared;that the, profession is ;.'in.a parlous state. :

In; prescribing tho routino of'a cadet encampment for . boys tho officer commanding -will do .woll'..to romembor'tho,'.physical-limita-tions: of ;hisyputhful charges. The writer paid, a visit to a .cadet oncampment ..r.ccontly. and was astonished ,fo hear that a night .guard, from 7,. ( p.m.,ti11,7 a.m., was included in , tlio day's-routine.. ~Tho duties of this guard ,"could : quito':'easily, havo I been carried Out;by. tho''officers;.: of;, the,-iiight watch. 'Lengthy paradcs;. ; and'anything; likely to result .'.in; .physical.: I overstrain 1 ..should bo avoided. .. . , ;