TEACHER REFUSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20547, 6 May 1941, Page 6

TEACHER REFUSES

SALUTE TO FLAG APPEAL BOARD CASE DISMISSAL DISPUTED MISBEHAVIOUR DENIED (Per Press Association.) WAIHI, this day. Holding that she had not been guilty of “gross misbehaviour” within the meaning of section four of the Education Amendmen: Act 1932-33 and that the Auckland Education Board had no right in peremptorily dismissing her from her employment at the Waikino School because she refused to salute the (lag, Louisa Grace Kennedy. teacher of Auckland, sought redress from the Teachers' Board of Appeal at a sitting at Waihi. The applicant submitted that the i islruction to salute the flag was no 1 ; a lawful command given in relation to her duties as a teacher and, therefore, could not even be a ground for suspension, still less-for dismissal. She claimed that she was a thoroughly loyal British subject and had every respect for the British flag and for the principles which it represented. She said she had endeavoured to inculcate in pupils loyalty to the King and respect lor the flag, i Not Intended As Disloyalty She further claimed that her refusal to salute the flag did not amount to and was not intended as disloyalty as a.ieged in the notice of dismissal, but was dictated solely by her conscienlious objection on religious grounds lo disobey the second commandment and other scriptural injunctions to the same effect. She was willing to show ner respect for the flag by standing at respectful attention during the ceremony of saluting it.

Mr. D. W. Dunlop, in presenting the case for the Education Board, contended that Miss Kennedy refused to salute the flag on two different occasions. He submitted that the refusal amounted to misbehaviour and persistence in such refusal amounted to gross misbehaviour.

The decision of the board was reserved.