CAPTAIN ERSKINE'S RESIGNATION. Hampering an Important Movement.

Free Lance, Volume VIII, Issue 383, 2 November 1907, Page 6

CAPTAIN ERSKINE'S RESIGNATION. Hampering an Important Movement.

THE members of the Wellington Education Board ha\e been called upon to face an unusual difficulty during the past week by reason of the resignation as captain of the public school cadet corps of Mr. Erskine, a teacher of the Terrace School. There seemed to be a tendency at one time during their meeting for the members of the Board to enthuse over the subjects of "discipline" and "patriotism/ but they were well-advis-ed m restraining any undue enthusiasm, and listening to reason m the somewhat puzzling circumstances In sending in his resignation, Mr Erksine, who is a valued member of the education staff, stated "he is willing to do the business end of the military work— drilling the boys and supervising shooting — but he is averse to attending ceremonial parades Hence he sent m. his resignation from the captaincy." The public school cadet corps are a comparatively new growth m our national life, and we take just pride in the fact that the Dominion of New Zealand is setting up a high standard of merit and discipline m this department. Visiting naval and military authorities have spoken with one voice on the excellence of our cadet system, and the great advantages that should result to the boys in the advanced ranks of the volunteer regiments * • * But, it should be remembered that the movement had its birth m the military ardour and patriotism of individual teachers It was an independent movement, promoted by their activity and desire to see well-trained boys disciplined into something more than sentimental patriotism to their Empire. When a school corps was formed, the command was originally left to that member of the teaching staff whose volunteer training or military ardour fitted him for the task • • * We are not aware that any regulations have since been drawn up whereby members of a school teaching staff are required by virtue of their office to undertake the work of drill instructors and commanding officers on "show" days Let it be said, to the credit of the teachers generally, that there has been no lack of self-sacrifice or devotion to duty m this connection But, the point is that the Education Board has no right to demand or enforce such service from their teachers • » Captain McDonald sought to assume the position m the meeting that the Board could practically refuse the resignation, and insist on Mr. Erskine's compliance with their demands to officer the cadets when required This must be declared erroneous If Mr. Erskine finds no attraction m being before the public eye clad in scarlet and girt about with sword and trappings, that is distinctly his affair I—a1 — a matter of taste not generally objected to, perhaps, but none the less to be respected Captain McDonald moved on good ground when he insisted that the man who trained the cadets should be the man m command of them when on parade But that aspect of the case does not furnish

grounds for insisting on a teacher's accepting cadet work as part of his school duties There is a danger that anything like an overbearing spuit m this connection may tend to impede the giowth of a. most desirable pait of our public school life