THE SHYNESS OF OUR FUTURE GOVERNORS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12458, 28 May 1926, Page 6

THE SHYNESS OF OUR FUTURE GOVERNORS

During the series of educational conferences held annually in Wellington the public hears much of »what the State is doing for the children, and much more about what it might and ought to do. A refreshing discussion might be held on the subject of what the children ought to do for the State. The inclination of secondary school students to-day is to shy clear of politics. It is a disappointing and dangerous tendency. It gives warning of a time when politics in New Zealand, as in certain States of Australia, will be given over to blustering union bosses and ambitious lawyers with few scruples, while the people best fitted to carry on the government of the country wave the Flag, write critical letters to the papers, and, generally, do everything to express their disapproval of the existing state of things—everything short of entering the maelstrom and working for an improvement. New Zealand, which spends more than £3 ,000,000 a year on education, is surely entitled to expect from the children something in return. It does expect, and should insist, that every boy and girl in a secondary school shall have impressed on him: (1) Just what the State is doing for him ; (2) the fact that the government of the Dominion is carried on not only by the Government, but by minor organisations of every description—borough and county councils, electricity and hospital boards, social welfare leagues, and sporting clubs; and (3) that it is his duty to give his services in sortie capacity to the State. A definite "bias” must be given to the student in favour of social service. The need, in short, is for the exercise of patriotism in peace time. Miiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiniiimimiieiiimi!miamiiiiiifflniiiii!iiiiiitimiiiiiimHminiiimniiiiiiraiiiijimiiiiiHinmiimiiiiHimiiiiminiMiimminiii