Oath of Loyalty Urged for Teachers

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 188, 9 August 1941, Page 8

Oath of Loyalty Urged for Teachers

LABOUR OBJECTION Per Press Assocfatlon. WELLINGTON, Aug. 8. A suggestion that all teachers entering the profession in future should be required to sign a declaration of loyalty to the King and country and an undertaking that if their country was in danger, they should be prepared to defend it, was made by Mr E. B. Gordon (Opp., Rankitikei) when the Kouse of Representatives to-day went into Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates. The Acting-Prime Minister, Mr W. Nash, made a strong protest against the suggestion. It was grossly unfair to suggest that teachers as teachers should be picked out from everybody else in the community to take the oath of loyalty. Mr Gordon: They have so much to do with the young. Mr Nash said that everyone in the community had something to do with training our children, but some people went out of their way to suggest that teachers were disloyal. Mr W. J. Poison (Opp. Stratford): Are all teachers loyal? Mr Nash: Yes. all teachers are loyal. An Opposition interjection: Oh, no they are not. Two will not salute the flag. Mr Nash: It Is what is in their hearts that they are loyal. They are loyal to the children not in saluting the flag. Mr C. L. Carr (Govt., Timaru) said that teachers were people who had read widely, studied deeply and got away from the kindergarten methods of thinking and acting, and it was pretty hard to expect them to bow down to the totem pole. Their loyalties were loyalties of heart and mind, and outward observance did not mean much to them. Mr D. C. Kidd (Opp., Waitaki): Would you say that conscientious objectors in the teaching profession should not be removed? Mr Carr: I think that probably the loyalty of conscientious objectors may mean higher patriotism and truer loyalty than some of those who outwardly salute the flag and bow to the god of war. Everyone in the country was entitled to freedom of conscience, he said. The Minister of Education, Mr H. G. R. Mason, said that all school teachers took the oath before beginning the teaching profession. He was satisfied that teachers were as loyal and patriotic a body as could be found anywhere. The Minister added that if there was any suggestion that any particular teacher was not loyal, the the question might arise at once about the position of that teacher, but the taking of a new oath would not increase patriotism. TEACHERS RESENT ATTACK ON THEIR LOYALTY Per Press Association. e DUNEDIN, Aug. 8. Indignation at the recent attacks on the loyalty of teachers culminating iu to-day’s debate in Parliament was expressed to-night by the president of tlio New Zealand Educational Institute (Mr. D. Forsyth). "The teachers of New Zealand by their actions overseas in the Air Force, A rmy and Navy, and by their leadership and work in various patriotic and other military and semi-military activities at homo have proved their loyalty by deeds, not words,” said Mr. Forsyth. ‘ ‘ I'ley have been specially selected for criticism from the outset and have suffered in silence, preferring work to talk.”

Mr. Forsyth said he believed that parents and the public generally appreciated the teachers’ work, but it did seem unfair and unjust that because among the 6000 teachers in the Dominion thore were some very few who chose to exercise what was, when all is said anad done, their legal right and had appealed as conscientious objectors, tho whole profession should be attacked and the loyalty of its members questioned.

Every teacher had taken the oath of allegiance and to ask for a fresh oath would merely insult 99.9 per cent, of the loyal teachers and would not in any way worry the .1 percentage who were disloyal, if the figure were so high, nor would it increase anyone’s real patriotism by one iota.

It was particularly annoying wbeu statements against teachers’ loyalty were made under the protection of Par liamentary privilege, Mr. Forsyth added, and one could not but feel that if that were the official attitude by the Opposition it should be openly stated.

7lf it Avere not, tho recalcitrant members of the party should be kept in check.” Finally, said Mr. Forsyth, teachers owed a debt of gratitude to those members of the Government who had so firmly defended their loyalty. The teachers as a body took second place to no one iu their practical loyalty.