THE NAVY LEAGUE IN SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 55, 6 March 1914, Page 8

THE NAVY LEAGUE IN SCHOOLS

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,-—ln your issue of yesterday you referred to Mr. Clement Watson's corn* plaints as to the exploitation of the school children for tho purposes of dis* play, writing of essays,; etc., and the Navy League was classed with other organisations as taking up too much timeof the schools. This does not represent the views of the headmasters in general, as many of them have written from time to time in strong support of the broadening effect on the minds of the youngsters of the educative and patriotic work of the Navy League. It is only a few years back that the Wellington Headmasters 1 Association, when discussing the whole matter of public. displays and outside interference with the school curriculum, passed a special resolution to the effect tltat the Navy League, while carried out on existing lines, was a body well worthy of support. The league has always left matters 0! detail to the individual discretion of headmasters; and, fully appreciating their arduous duties, has endeavouveol to give aa little bother as possible. At the same time, it is felt that the an* nual essay competition bafied on sea' power, could readily be made to form part of the time devoted to the study of history in the School hours; and furthermore, that on, Trafalga Day the league might be allowed, to encroach on school houi'S to the extent of half an hour or so. ■. In contradistinction to Mr. Watson's remarks, the* following extract from ftletter recently received by me from a prominent headmaster in; the South Island, might be quoted, *He writes: "I am more and more satisfied that we schoolmasters have a paramount obligation to emphasise the ideal of Imperial unity to our young charges, and to familiarise them with all outstanding international questions., bo aa to weed out the curse of parochialism." The Navy League exists for the express purposo. of combatting national apathy and narrow-minded parochialism, either of which, if allowed to gailY ground, cannot but help to bring l>o an ignoble finish the glorious hißtpry of the building up of our world-wide Empire, embodying as it does the peace of the Beas, equal justice to all, and the many other advantages of British citizenship* which privileges some of us are inclined to hold so lightly. I am glad to notice that, despite bis remarks as to the schools, Mr. Wateon approves the general teaching of the League. His stirring address at Captain, llalsey's "farewell" at the Town Hall in June last, \^as brimming over witht Imperialism; but Mr. Watson and the other head teachers fchould realise that without their co-operation and support it is quite iniposß-iMe to carry out the educative work of the League "among the growing generation.—l any etc., CECIL W. PALMER, •Hon. Secretary Wellington Branch of the Navy League. Wellington. 6th March.

The Postal authorities advise that the s.s. Maheno, which sailed from Sydney on Wednesday for Auckland, is bringing Australian mails, also an English mail, via Sue?,. The Wellington portion is duo per Main Trunk express on Monday next. Messrs. Thomson and Brown advertise particulnrs of 500 lot* of household fuynituro, etc., which they will sell at their rooms, 35, Cuba-otreet, to-morrow, at 2 ,p.m. sharp. , On tfoe.stune afternoon ,tho firm will offer blankets, eheete, etc.