PROPAGANDA IN CLASSROOMS.

Evening Star, Issue 21724, 19 May 1934, Page 14

PROPAGANDA IN CLASSROOMS.

The Rev. P. B. Fraser (whose natural gift for “taking his own part” in controversy, the, passing years have not impaired) has drawn public attention to what may not unfairly be termed Communist propaganda in the lectures delivered by some professors in the New Zealand University Colleges. As the University. Colleges are State-subsi-dised, and as the Government of New Zealand, and the Parliament of Now Zealand, and the electors of New Zealand are strongly anti-Communist (as is attested by the miserable support given to any Communist candidate who aspires to a position in general or local politics), the intrusion of such teaching in a curriculum supposed to deal with less controversial matters may be regarded as a species of treason, or at least biting the hand that feeds. It appears, however, that in England the Communist propagandists hare descended a step lower and have sought to gain an entry into the great public, schools. Apparently the opportunity presented itself‘in the alleged discovery that Fascism is making a determined effort to insinuate itself into the schools. The chief argument so far adduced in support of this allegation is that joining the Officers’ Training Corps is practically compulsory in the schools after a certain age. At any rate, one of the masters at Wellington College (England) inaugurated an interschool paper “ to counteract the very active Fascist propaganda that does go on In public schools,” as one of his journalistic champions puts it; but, despite the fact that the head master of Wellington “ saw no harm in the paper ” (the title of which is 1 Out of Bounds ’), the scholastic editor has since left Wellington, and the inference is that parents object to proselytising their sons in

matters political before they have reached years of discretion. With its usual nose for sensationalism, the ‘ Daily Mail ’ seized on the incident and published a “ story ” under tho captions, ‘ Red Menace in tho Public Schools. Moscow Attempts to Corrupt Boys.’ In tho course of tho article it was stated that “ there is a strong suspicion that the money for the propaganda comes from Bolshevist funds.” There is a quantity of evidence accumulating that the issue of Fascism versus Communism has become a very live one among extremists in England, while the moderates, comprising tho great bulk of the population, look on not without anxiety and sorrow at fanatics scattering broadcast the seeds of possible civil war, even though it might be sporadic and not endemic. There are some parents, whether of school children or university students, who profess an objection to loyalty to King and country being inculcated in classrooms, and who would like to see all flagpoles in school grounds sawn off at the butt. Yet there is a vast difference between Jingoism and true veneration for the flag and what it should stand for. There is a spurious patriotism which has been defined as tho last refuge of scoundrels; but there is another kind altogether, and that this should be attacked openly, or undermined by innuendo by any teacher, especially one whose salary is in any degree subsidised from the public funds, is a matter calling for discipline before the offenders are encouraged', through present relative immunity, from exercising license to the full extent of what their position permits. Propaganda on one side invariably provokes reprisals from the other side, and we should be profoundly sorry to see in New Zealand a diversion of concentration on other very pressing and important problems while Fascists and Communists monopolise the arena.'