MINISTER’S VIEWS
HE EDUCATIONAL WORKERS
“IDEAS OF FOREIGN ORIGIN”
A hint of his -opposition to educaworkers who express opinions “smacking of foreign origin” was given by the Minister of Education, the Hun. S. G. Smith, when opening the conference in Wellington of the Education Boards’ Association of New Zealand.
“Wo must recognise the changing conditions and legislate and administrate toward them,” die said. “I am one of those who believe that if people have ideas to express they ought to he allowed to express them if they are not hurtful, even if they are not . always in accordance with what we usually hear; let us hear what they have to say. I have been * struck with the number of people coming along- with ideas which a few years ago were foreign and, indeed, quite repugnant to us. “We have school teachers and procoming with ideas with which many do not agree, .and with some of which, I hope, we will never agree. One wonders how far they will go. 1 •hear and read a great deal of expressions of thought from various centres on educational progress in connection with sujeh subjects as peace. So much of it scorns to me to smack of foreign origin, ft is quite good for foreigners to talk of control and peace, but some day we might find, if we adopt these ideas in education, that we have let the children down very badly.
“f was interested in readying a report of a school commttee meeting in which a member urged that on certain days of the year the Union Jack or the New Zealand flag should ho flown so that buys can he told what it means. One member said: “No, wo shouldn’t do that at all. It would be far better U> obtain the flag of the League of Nations, or something like that.’ After all, we are a British country, a,lid the first ling we ought to honour is the Union Jack. \ believe that sentiment is accepted by 09J per c-onl i t (ho country.
“We ought to make sure,” he added, “that, people should not got into posi turns who-’ they can spread a gospel such as this.”
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Bibliographic details
Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1935, Page 7
Word Count
367MINISTER’S VIEWS Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1935, Page 7
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