ENTRY TO SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 47, 19 November 1936, Page 12

ENTRY TO SCHOOLS

Navy League Lectures In School Hours EDUCATION BOARD BAN Refusal to Alter Earlier Decision By seven votes to four the Wellington Education Board yesterday rejected a motion by Colonel T. W. McDonald to admit the representative of the Wellington Navy League, Mr. R. Darroeh, to its schools in school hours, once a year for a period not exceeding half an hour. The board in committee on Tuesday evening received a deputation comprising Captain W. H. Hartman, chairman of the executive committee of the Navy League: Mr. Darroeh, the seeretarv; Dr. Graham Robertson, and Mrs. L. O. H. Tripp. A statement made by Mr. Darroeh to the meeting was released to the Press yesterday. Mr. Darroeh recalled that the Navy League was the first outside institution to enter schools during school hours, and that the right of entry into the public schools of the Wellington Education Board district had been enjoyed bv the representative of the Navy League for 35 years. “For two years 1 have endeavoured to arrange my itinerarv to fit in with your board’s restriction of after-school addresses only, but I have found it extremely difficult and almost impossible to carry it out with any degree of efficiency.” Mr. Darroeh said. “I visit schools in five education board districts out of the nine in New Zealand. In one I am taken to the schools by the chairman, members and secretary of the board. In two others rhe secretary of the board makes all arrangements with the schools for my visits. I feel it a little hard that in my own board, where I spent all iny life as pupil and teacher, the conditions of entry should be more exacting. “The Navy League has, at all times, shaped its policy with due regard, to the changes in international affairs, and so to-day we are endeavouring to create a public opinion which will assist our New Zealand Government in its defence policy, and in the help which it desires to give to the League of Nations.” Reason for Embargo. “When the board resolved not to allow the Navy League and other bodies to visit the schools during school hours, it did so with the object of not making fish of one and flesh of another —of preventing multifarious organisations getting into the schools during school hours,” Colonel McDonald said, in moving his motion. ' “But a lot of water has run under the bridge since then, and in the state the world is in to-day and with the urgent necessity for every sympathy to be accorded to the navy through the Navy League, it behoves this board to revise its previous decision and to say that it is in accord with visits being made by Mt. Darroeh to our schools — once a year to each school —each visit to be not more than half an hour.” “I am going freely to admit that fhe circumstances in the world today are very much different from what they ■were, say, 12 months ago,” said Mr. J. J. Clark, seconding the motion. “It is a brave man who can see his faults and admit them,” he continued, in explaining his changed attitude since the question was last before the board. “I am bound to-day to reverse my ■ decision op. 12 months ago,” he declared. “The gentlemen who came before us last night made it clear that their work is very much restricted by the fact that the Navy League cannot enter the schools during school hours. Mr. Darroeh stated that it would be almost impossible to work more than one school a day under the present system, but in school hours he could work five or six schools in one day. “Two years ago the League of Nations was a very vital force,” Mr. Clark continued. “I am not going to enter into politics, gentlemen, but it is quite apparent what is the position to-day. We find countries arming as quickly • as they possibly can. We ourselves are making up the ground we lost years ago. 'The position here in Wellington is that it is almost impossible to buy corrugated iron. All the factories in tile Old Country are making munitions. “If you want to keep peace in this world, be prepared to fight. To-day the League of Nations is not the dominant force,” he added, and concluded by saying that the Navy League was not entirely concerned in naval matters. “I strongly support the motion. The influence of the Navy League is a good influence in bur schools,” said Mr. W. H. Jackson. “It is not a jingo sort of talk, but makes the boys and girls realise the state of the world we are living in.” Mr. C. H. Nicholls supported the motion. He would say that the right of entry should be limited to the secretary of the Navy League for the time being. Colonel McDonald: I will alter my motion to that. The Other Side. “1 think it is time we had a word on the other side,” said Mr. P. Robertson. “The League of Nations advocates a different fundamental philosophy to the Navy League. I stand four-square for defence, but not as outlined by the Navy League.” 1 “There has been such a big turnover that I am wondering where I am,” said the chairman, Mr. W. V. Dyer. “I am going to stand four-square for no entry into our school hours for any organisation. I would say that the matters affecting the British Empire are brought before the children by the teachers. I cannot understand why members have run away with this. Mr. Darroeh must have been very persuasive last night to have brought this about. What are we going to say to tiie League of Nations or other organisations if they come along next week?

Mr. J. Stonehouse: I take up the attitude that if the Navy League is going to be allowed in theu lecturers on temperance and everything else should be allowed the same privilege. Others With Same Kight,

“I am very surprised that several members should adopt this attitude about the Navy League question,” said Mr. G. M. Henderson. He proceeded to enumerate “people who might have the same right.” as follows: The League of

Nations Union, St. John Ambulance Association, Rod Cross Society, the prohibition and liquor parties, the Bible-in-sehools organisation, the Institute of

Pacific Relations (which he said was a. far more vital body than the Navy League as far as New Zealand was concerned), the Douglas Credit Association and sports associations. A member: And Christian Science? Mr. Henderson: Opinion is not a

thing that should be handed out in tlie schools. Are we going to carry on wit it this sort of medieval idea in Ihe educational system? Children have been sent to the schools to be educated, not to be filled with opinion. “1 would say the teachers are able to give lessons on the importance of the British Navy,” said Mr, A. C. Blake. “The view I take is simply that it is not necessary for the Navy League to enter our schools at all.”

Replying to the debate. Colonel .McDonald defended the changed opinion he had on the question. “Surely we are men of sufficient intelligence to discriminate between petty things and things of importance,” he said. “'When you are unable to listen to opinions you are unable to do anything.” Colonel McDonald said the Navy League was “the representative of the greatest organisation of the world, the British Navy.” “Show me the teacher,” he added, “who can say that no opinion is ever given in the schools. When we teach astronomy are we teaching al! facts or some opinion? The facts of to-day may tomorrow he only opinion. ’’