HONOURING THE FLAG

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 239, 4 July 1940, Page 5

HONOURING THE FLAG

Daily Practice In Schools Urged By R.S.A. Dominion Special Service. NAP!EH, July 3. That school children and members of school stall's should salute the flag daily and sing the national anthems was a suggestion which was made at .a meeting of the Tarttdale and District branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, when the following resolution was adopted: “That this branch urges on the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association to recommend to the Education Department that, with the view of inculcating a true spirit of loyalty to our King and Empire and to check any spread of subversive teachings in our schools, each day the children, together with members of the teaching staffs, shall assemble and salute Hie Hag and at the same time the National and New Zen land Anthems lie sung.”

It was stated that. a large percentage of teachers in New Zealand were intensely loyal, Imt there were a number who entertained views that were incompatible with the training ol the children in their charge In a proper spirit of loyalty. No matter how highly Qualified such teachers might lie. it was considered that if they were not loyal subjects they were not fit and proper persons to be entrusted with the training of the youth of the Dominion. The treachery which had taken place in recent weeks in Europe should lie regarded as a timely warning of the need to eradicate from the teaching system any elements that possessed disloyal tendencies. It was felt that the little time taken in honouring the flag would bo fully justified, as it would give Hie children a conception of loyalty that was desirable af all times. it. was ui’gbd that all members of teaching staffs should take their place along with the children for this purpose: any teacher who was not prepared to honour Hie flag with the children could soon be dealt with in a manner which should include his dismissal from service.