THE P.P.A. AND THE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 14

THE P.P.A. AND THE SCHOOLS.

Sir, —Your correspondent "Fairplay" states that the principle which the P.P.A. is defending is that Romar Catholics, since they do not choose to come under the State school system, have no valid claim to participate in the cental facilities provided by the State for the national schools. 'lf there is any principle at stake, I take it to be that the welfare of the nation's children is to be safeguarded. The fact that this is being done, so far as dental hygiene is concerned, through the medium of the State schools, is purely a matter of organisation and not of principle. There is more in this question than the par.icular point of dental attention. Deeply r Doted among a section of people in this country is the dangerous fallacy that the acceptance of State-provided education is an essential for qualification as a member of the State. It was to such an-attitude that I took exception in my letter—an attitude plainly indicated by the alaim expressed by the P.P.A at even the "eulogising" of the work of sectarian schools by the Minister of Education. And it is this attitude, apparently, that "Fairplay" seeks to defend. Did he select his nom de plume merely from lack of a sense of humour or did he feel the need of some such question-begging epithet to atone for lack of logical support? A.T.