MILITARY TRAINING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 20

MILITARY TRAINING

Purpose in Technical Schools Debated CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE The most debated remit at the annual conference of the New Zealand Technical School Teacher;’ Association, continued at Wellington yesterday, was the following from Christeliurcb, which was defeated after considerable discussion: "That this conference is of the opinion that the physical development of post-primary schoolboys and the future defence of New Zealand could be better served by the substituting for the present' system of military cadet training a more effective system of physical training.” Au amendment in which there was no reference to military training was carried. 'The Christchurch remit was not intended to bring about, a discussion on the undesirability of war or on pacifism. said Mr. G. M. Keys’. There existed in schools periods for military training. Were these periods being used to tlie best advantage? The Christchurch staff held a meeting at which it was considered they were not. There was a certain danger in pupils wearing’ the military uniform and parading through the streets, Mr. Keys added. It centred around the idea of playing at soldiers. He felt that any benefits which accrued from the military training system in schools could be "retained by, and other advantages would come with, another system. The boys would benefit considerably and lose none of the claimed advantages of the military training system, many of which he felt were imaginary. Miss F. O. Booth (Timaru), a physical instructress,- said any physical training system was judged by the posture developed in those trained. If the posture was not .right then the system must be wrong. She felt if a test were conducted in New Zealand probably over 90 per cent, -of pupils would have incorrect posture. No proposal from the conference should be linked with any steps the State considered desirable for the defence ot the Dominion, said Mr. H. A. Jones, of Auckland. Mr. Jones moved an amendment: "That this conference is of the opinion that the ijhysieal development of pos|primary school boys and girls calls for immediate-attention, and that the Government be urged to appoint full-time physical instructors to organise plans tor better physical training in secondary and technical schools.” ' Christchurch was unable to accept the Auckland amendment, said Mr. W. B. Harris. , ~ , •It was pointed out by another speaker that military training'in the schools was not compulsory. Christchurch was prepared to face the double issue, Mr. Keys stated in rep.y. He did not think it dearable that the military convention wh.ch had lasted in the schools should continue. The military system in operation in the schools was iutile, said Mr. S. J. Bennett, of Palmerston North, (Applause.) Trained mass movement of the kind practised was to-day outdated in the military sphere. , ... There had been no military training at Wellington Technical College, said the principal, Mr. R. G. Ridling. The matter was in the bauds.of the school print.pal, who could get rid of military training if he wanted to. It was no longer compulsory. , The amendment was carried on a division. A further amendment to add the words —“and that as far as boys are concerned the military cadet system should be discarded" —-was lost on the cast.ng vote of the chairman, Mr. 11. M. Scott.