NAVAL HISTORY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8179, 22 July 1912, Page 4

NAVAL HISTORY

Mr 0. W. Palmer, honorary secretary of tho Wellington branch of tho Navy league, sent the following letter to tlie Education Commission:—“On behalf of the- Navy League, X would respectfully , point out {fiat in many of the schools in the-Do-minion there is a Serious neglect of British naval history While instructors in public schools of other nations are nayiui particular attention, to the development among their pupils of a sense of daty to their country, pride in the past, and hope for the future of their race, in many cl our schools our most glorious naval l istory (to which our 1 nation owes its present position of security and prosperity) is practically ignored. Ignorance and apathy iu this matter constitute a serious peril, xl we as a nation intend to hold cur position of leader of urn civilised world, tho coming generation' (including all classes) should most certainly be taught to fully realise bow vital to us is the retention of ‘command of the 'sea/ which was won for us by the tremendous efforts and self-denial of our forelathers. As a. rne.uia of iacllltating the teaching, of naval history. the league strongly urges tho adoption of the Navy League map handbook, •Britain On and Beyond tho Sea,’ as a class-book; or, failing this, that copies of the book should be supplied to each and every teacher in the Dominion. The book has been compiled by an expert schoolmaster specially lor schools, and mauv teachers have expressed their warm appreciation of the work, nearly 20(0 Copies of which have already been distributed by the Wellington branch, alone among tho elder of the 1 Juvenile members of tho Navi League during the past five years. The league also urges that a further supply of the large Navy League wall map of the world should be obtained. If ordered in quantities through the league the map is available at the low cost of 10s 6d each—-one-half the London published price. This map appears to be greatly appreciated In the schools to which it has already been supplied. Deed in Conjunction with the handbook (already mentioned) it greatly facilitates the teaching of the outline of naval history."