TEACHING HATRED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2703, 24 February 1916, Page 3

TEACHING HATRED

A PROTEST BY PROFESSORS.

The "Standard" publishes the following from its special correspondent in Switzerland:—

A" remarkable appeal addressed by a small group of distinguished men of science and letters in Germany to "all Gorman parents and teachers" gives some idea of the results obtained by the systematic propaganda carried on in German schools to mould the political opinions of the rising generation. Tho 'appeal bears the signatures of Privy Councillor Dr. Wilhelm Forster, professor at the University of Berlin j Dr. Paul Barth, professor at Leipzig; Dr. Hermann Beage, professor at Berlin ; Dr. Paul Natorp, professor at Marburg; Herr Heihrich Wolgasfc,, head master at Hamburg; Dr. Gustav Wyneken,' Dr. Rudolf Penzig, ; and Dr.' Brune Wille. The following are the most striking passages in tho manifesto, tho auffhors of which will doubtless be subjected to insult and abuse for their protest against- the syrtematio roaring of a new breed of Huns: — "Do not sow haired in the hearts of our children! Whoever watches tho effect of the war on German children and listens to thoir comments on current events must be full of fears for the moral welfare of yonng Germany. Hatred, desire for revenge, contempt for other nations, and boundless pleasure at the misfortunes of other peoples, together with an unprecedented sclf-safisfacflon, have become sq prevalent that it is high time to speak out against the peril menacing our children aud their future'.' The tragedy of war cannot be hidden from children. On the contrary, the events happening in the great world struggle should be utilised in tcachinjr them.' But in teach them to be good citizens and not to arouse all their most degraded instincts.

"We appeal to parents and teacnera ho remember their tremendous respon-. sibility. What will the future relations of Gefmany to other civilised nations bo when the future citizens of our Empire are taught to loathe and to des. pise utterly the peoples with whom, after the war, we shall have to live on terms of friendship or cease to exist as a great civilised country? The process of arousing a deep hatred of other nations in our children may produce disastrous consequences. It must bo stop-, ped in time. The teaching of patriot-, ism can bo combined'with the develop-, menfc of a reasonable respect for the qualities and characteristics of othci nations, including those against whom wo aro fighting at this moment."

A similar appoal, signed by Professor Heinrjch Lammasch, member of "the Austrian House of Peers, and Dr. Leo Burgers'tern,'professor at the University of Vienna, has been issuod to ttia parents and teachers of Austria.

A meeting of the Military Hospital Guild will b? held this morning at eleven o'clock in the Town Hall.

'Miss L. MacShane arrived in Wellington from Auckland yesterday, and is the guest of Mrs. George Didsbury.

The Christchurch Countess of Liverpool Fund Committee is now turning its attention to the providing of fruit to the various camps and troopships. The depot will very shortly be transferred from its present quarters into Colombo Street, and Her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool will formally open the new rooms within the next fortnight.

Miss N. Hay, a trained nurse in charge of a private hospital at Dunedin, has volunteered t6 go to England at her own expense, to offer her services to the Y.M.C.A. English National Council, for canteen work, and to use her money for that work. As she considers there are quite enough nurses offering now, she prefers to work the association catering line, as she has had considerable experience in management. Miss Hay is a sister of Captain Bruce Hay, a staff officer in the sth Mounted Rifles, who was killed at the Dardanelles.

A wedding .of . exceptional interest took' placo at the Presbyterian Church, liltham, last Thursday, the bride being (states the "Argus") the first _ baby born within the radius of what is now the borough of Eltham, while the bridegroom was the well-known ex-champion cyclist of New Zealand. Mr. Alfred E. Parkes, son of Mr. B. Parlies, of Huntervillc, was the bridegroom, and Miss Ada M'Donald, daughter of Mr. John M'Donald, the bride.

Miss 'Edith M'Master ("Matawhero," Featherston) is visiting Wellington.

The annual sale of work in connec< tion with the Petone Church of Christ, concluded last evening with an entertainment provided by the South Wei lington Church of Christ Choir. There was a good attendance, and a feature of the programme was an original alphabe given by Mrs. A. Wallstrum, which was well received.