INCULCATING LOYALTY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 232, 25 June 1921, Page 13

INCULCATING LOYALTY

MINISTER OF EDUCATION’S PROPOSALS

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE FOR TEACHERS

The Minister of Education (Hon. C. JParr) has received many communications expressing approval of his new .regulation relating to the inculcation of loyalty in tho State schools, by the saluting of the Flag and tho binging of the National Anthem. Ono auggestion that has reached him from several quarters i, that the Flag should be saluted each day instead of once a week. Mr. Parr said yesterday that he would have no objection at all to any school committee or education board making an arrangement of thia kind.

Another suggestion that has reached the Minister from school committees in Auckland and Dunedin is that membere of education boards, school committees, and other educational authorities exercising ppwers delegated by tho Government should be required to take the oath of allegiance prescribed for members of Parliament. The Minister yesterday expressed general-approval of this idea. He Baid that at a time when propaganda of an anti-Briti«h and disloyal character was being undertaken by certain people throughout the Empire, he thought it would Ivo wise to see that the people who served on educational authorities were loyal citizen,, who loved their country. Ho intended to submit the suggestions of the school committees to Cabinet. *.

Mr. Parr also expressed the opinion that in. tho future one of the conditions of the issue of a teacher's certificate should be the making of a declaration of loyalty and allegiance. No teacher should bo allowed to draw his country's pay if he wm not prepared to declare himself a loyal subject.