EXEMPTION OF TEACHERS FROM MILITARY SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 29, 29 October 1917, Page 4

EXEMPTION OF TEACHERS FROM MILITARY SERVICE

STATEMENT BY THE NEW 7-EA-LAND ; EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE.

We have received the following statement from the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute:— . "Consequent upon recent happenings in Parliament, there has been so much discussion on the question of tho exemption of publio school teachers from military service that tho executive of the Now Zealand Educational Institute, on behalf of teachers generally, thinks it advisable to make a statement on tho matter. The executive points out that teachers have never asked for exemption, and the granting of it at the present stage (unless carried to the length ot actual oxolusion of all teachers from, the Military Forces, which no one desires) can have no appreciable effect. Practically all tho teachers in the First Division, and a wry large PfP°, rtlon ,. f those in the Second, have already enlisted, and therefore exemption is meaningless as far .as they are concerned; and unless it is made compulsory it wilt also be without effect in the caso of the young teachers, many "f whom are now only awaiting the opportunity to follow the example of their elders. „ , "Undoubtedly the educational outlooK is a matter of grave concern, but; until the war is so-near a successful termination as to justify a slackening.of effort there is no reason to suppose * h f* ers will recede from the atUtude they took up at tho beginning of the wai. This attitude was expressed is a rotation of the annual meeting of tho in stltate, 191*. approving tho refusal by education boards to support appeals by teachers against being calkd up. Since that resolution was passed there have no doubt, emerged Particular cases in which appeals would 7 be fully J*»M**' for instance, where a family has already contributed, several sons to the lorcte, but coSions in such oases would not invalidate the general position. "Some relief to the present situation mighTbe obtained if fte Defence DegntoeW. This inevitaWv some confusion, and loss of * ffl ,° , Xe to teachers in question are kept out of the service for which they . ire ft should * retardl to the teaching service, without oMayj but in saying this the «»«*£ wishes it to be understood that the wisnes it „. nera i exemption did not position."