THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1917. THE TEACHING OF PATRIOTISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17066, 26 July 1917, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1917. THE TEACHING OF PATRIOTISM.

It may seem to be rather late in the day, or late in the war, to bo discussing the subject of tho teaching of patriotism, but it will have been noticed that the National Efficiency Board is not satisfied with present conditions in this matter, and wo are not sure that its dissatisfaction is entirely groundless. The board has recommended that, with a view to inculcating a strong national and Imperial sentiment in the minds of the boys and girls of the dominion, a series of short lessons on the history of the Empire, and the duties which that history suggests, should be prepared for each standard, and also that the flag of the Empire should be more regularly unfurled and saluted. There is undoubtedly a prevalent feeling that the Balient opportunities connected with the war have not been utilised as thoroughly or as intelligently as they might have been in the schools^—at any rate in the primary schools—of the dominion; that too much has been left to chance; that there is a lack of the definite knowledge which it should be possible to impart, even to the very young, in a quite simple fashion; and that while, in a somewhat vague way, the war is an interesting phenomenon to the youthful mind, the high purpose and ideal of the great crusade, as well as the great issues at stake, are too little understood. "Why bother the children's heads with these matters?" some people will be disposed to ask. The question is merely otiose, and we are of opinion that every child who has entered its teens ought to know, just primarily. and without complex detail, what, the British Empire and its allies are fighting for, and why more than seven thousand New Zealand soldiers have laid down their lives on foreign soil. It was stated last year that the French Ministry of Public Instruction had issued a circular pointing out that the role of education at the moment was "to second the French armies by informing the boys and girls of France why their country was fighting—for what past, for what future, for i what ideals. A London journal remarked, "that is what we also need in British schools."

No doubt the Efficiency Board, in making its recommendations, had in mind not merely the desirability of increasing the children's knowledge in relation to the present war, but also, and perhaps chiefly, the inculcating of patriotic sentiment%and principle in a more general sense. It may be admitted that the project is girt with difficulties, even with dangers. It is not easy to teach what you define, and it has been truly said that "it is just the mystical quality of patriotism which defies definition. If you try to rationalise it as a principle, it loses its spiritual beauty. . . . You cannot define the mystery of patriotism any more than you can define love, or sleep, or death." Some help in deciding how patriotism may be taught is perhaps to be obtained by noting some of the ways in which it should not be taught. It should not be taught by direct preaching, or by the use of magniloquent language, or by the aid of jingoistic " John Bullism," or by complacent and half-mechanical repetition of pseudo-patriotic catch words, whether in prose or verse. As for boasting, personal or vicarious, let it not be so much as named 'amongst us. At the time of the Boer war the schoolchildren of New Zealand were taught to bellow some blatant doggerel acclaiming the virtues of the " boys of the bull-dog breed." We are glad to think that that type of truculent self-glorifica-tion is pretty well extinct. Of course, no teaching can be carried on by a process of negation; but assuredly a proud and pregnant reticence should be the very soul* of patriotic teaching. The people whose hearts are most warmly aglow with patriotic purpose talk least about it. Readers of " Stalky and Co." will remember the angry scorn of the boys, with soldiers' blood in their veins when the sleek member of Parliament came down and fed them with his fatuous patriotic platitudes. And there is a world of significance in the sergeantmajor's caustic order to a showy recruit —"Take that flag out of your buttonhole ; we don't want any of your blooming patriotism here." The Spectator, treating this subject some time ago, remarked, suggestively:

It is only too truo that there are blatant and vulgar ways of teaching patriotism—ways which brush the bloom off tho fruit and make dull and gross what should bo delicate and graceful. . The solutionit is a hard saying, no doubt, —is not to pretend that you can rationalise patriotism as a principle, but to undertake ,to guido patriotism already existing in some degree, visibly or invisibly, in every child, so as to make it, instead of a clamorous and provocative thing, a thing of good repute, fair and honourable, and a rule of life and (if need be) of death for every man. This is to leave untouched and unexplained the central mystery of patriotism, which, indeed, can scarcely be handled without being defiled, but to bo careful to suggest and encourage the workings of the spirit in countless acts in the past and the present. "Do not bo afraid,"' we would say, "of making a mystical appeal. Do not be afraid of affirming the existence of patriotism while you cannot profess to analyse it. _ Bo content to trace it in its manifestations—to show how this deed of high honour or brave sacrifice would be the mark of the patriotic man, and that conscienceless or cowardly deed the mark of the unpatriotic man." In this fashion reverence will grow, and the truth will dawn on youth that patriotism is an inspiration rather than a code. Definite' examples of patriotic action and sacrifice, pithily narrated, without verbiage, but also without baldness, furnish the most effective means for this kind of instruction. And there should be no excess of comment on the part of the teacher; the "Go and do likewise" should be delicately implied rather than directly urged. Children, even the youngest, are much mor« susceptible to indirect teaching in matters of morale than is commonly supposed, while they have an instinctive (and not unhealthy) distaste for direct preaching. It should always be borne in mind that when' patriotism becomes priggish it is on the way to becoming odious.

Patriotism should not be taught in a Bpirit of passionate exclusiveness. In-

deed, it should be associated with the co-operative principle of human brotherhood, and with the duty of candid respect for other nations, provided they are respectable; but it should avoid tho enervating strain of a nerveless cosmopolitanism. True, there may come a time when patriotism, in the present sense of the term, will bo relegated to tho limbo of obsolete virtues. Tennyson dreamed of " that divine day."

England, Franco, all men to be, Shall mako one people, ore man's race bo run. But with his eye on pre-millennial conditions, he also averred—"That man's the true cosmopolite who loves his native land the best." There is room for a just pride of race and heritage, free from shallow bombast on the one hand and from mawkish humbleness on the other. The teaching of patriotism must avoid alike the excess of martial clamour and the slush of pacific sentimentalism. Again to quote the Spectator:

We do not want a vainglorious and militaristic conception of life; but we do want—what is the exact reverse—such a well-applied lovo of one's country that every child may grow up to think it worth while to devote his lifo so far as ho can, or to lay it down if necessary, in order to maintain this country as the inviolate home of liberty, and as a great exemplar of tho political art of conceding liberty to others. A child can be taught that it is base' to consent to tyranny, and it is nonsense to say that such teaching as this is impossible.

The clergymen of the Anglican communion are being requested by the Primate to observe Sunday, August 5, as Declaration Day. with special services of intercession for the attainment of the objects of the war.

Sir James Allen states that there is only a small proportion of the officers and N.C.O.'s. of the Defence Department eligible in the First Division who have not had an opportunity of proceeding to the front. Arrangements exist whereby each reinforcement draft reduces tho number.

The Plon. A. L. Herdman (Minister in Charge of tho Police Department) states, that there is no intention to appoint women, patrols. The Minister of Public Health has under consideration the question of introducing legislation providing for the appointment of women inspectors for duty as patrol officers to assist and advise young people in certain circumstances.

The Hon. G. W. Russell states that the Government fully recognises the importance of river protection, both in regard to flooding and erosion, and hopes to bring down comprehensive legislation dealing with tho subject. It is not, however, possible to deal with such a far-reaching subject during the war.

The other day Mr Witty asked the Government whether it would amend the law so as to allow hospital and charitable aid boards to borrow money for building purposes instead of having to take a levy every time improvements were required The Hon. G. W. Russell states that facilities already exist for hospital boards to borrow on the security of their freeholds, and during the last two years these powers have been largely used, thus spreading both the levies on the taxpayers and the payments from the Consolidated Fund as subsidies over a period of years. The proposal to enable boards to borrow from the State Advances Department is in contemplation, but it is not considered practicable to give effect to it while the war continues.

In replying to Mr Payne in tho House of Representatives yesterday (says a Press Association telegram), the Prime Minister stated that any rumour to tho effect that he and Sir Joseph Ward would shortly leave for Britain to represent the dominion there as High Commissioner and as permanent Minister in London respectively was absolutely incorrect. He had no desire to leave New Zealand, and he was quite sure that New Zealand could not do without him. He stated that there would be no change in tho High Commissionership for some time.

At the meeting of the City Council last evening two cx-councillors—Messrs Isaac Green and J. S. Sinclair —were honoured by a presentation in recognition of their valuable services to the city. In making tho presentation, tho Mayor referred to the changes that took place in public life, and stated that Ore Wilson and Shacklock were the only two members left of the council that' held office when he first took his seat at that table. Mr Green had always taken his work on behalf of the city seriously, and had thrown his whole energy and enthusiasm into it There was no one whom he personally held in greater esteem, and he was sure one and all greatly regretted that they were now denied the benefit of his advice.' Mr Sinclair's retirement was also an undoubted loss to the city—(" Hear, hear ") —because, in addition to his shrewd business judgment, he had the advantage oi his legal training. Both gentlemen would be greatly missed as esteemed friends, and ho was sure that every councillor deeply regretted their absence. He had much pleasure in handing each gentleman an illuminated minute as a tangible mark of appreciation of their many valuable services and also as an expression of thanks for tho manner in which each had discharged his duties as a councillor and as chairman of his committee. Tho minute bore the signatures of the Mayor and Ors Douglas and Hayward. Crs Douglas, Wilson, Scott, and Hayward cordially endorsed the remarks of the Mayor, Cr Wilson expressing the opinion that candidature for the mayoralty should not involve exclusion from a seat on the council. Mr Green heartily thanked the Mayor and councillors for their kind expressions regarding himself and his services, and paid a very high tribute to the whole of the council's staff from the town clerk and the heads of the various departments —engineering arid otherwise—downwards. Mr Sinclair briefly returned thanks, stating that he had served the city for six years. The speaker added that although it might sound rather disloyal to say so, he thought it would take a good deal of pressure to induce him to enter public life again.

Mr Hornsby asked the Prime Minister yesterday whether he would make representations to the United States Government in regard to facts that had come to his (Mr Hornsby's) knowledge with regard to the benzine question. It was alleged that the substance of the tins had become so attenuated that one could push his thumb through the tins. The Government should set up a commission to mako inquiries in order to mako representations to tho United States Government to curb this " greed of tho oil trust." Mr Massey said he would make further inquiries. It was just possible that ho would have something further to say on the matter. The matter of giving a war bonus to all civil servants, as was done last year, is, Sir Joseph Ward states, under the consideration of the Government, and a decision will bo announced after tho matter has been settled. In reply to Mr Reed, the Prime Minister states that an amendment of the law is under consideration in connection with the LW.W. and kindred institutions. In reply to Mr Payne, the Prime Minister states that the cost to the country of tho special train to Pukekohe in connection with the dinner to welcome him homo was nil. The train was a guaranteed tram, the promoters of tho function having become responsible. Mr Wilford asked the Postmaster-general yesterday whether he could provide this session for slot telephones to outlying districts. As a compliment to the member for Christchurch South, ho suggested that the letter should be dropped at the beginning of tho word telephone. Sir Joseph Ward promised to give the request due consideration. Instructions have been received by the Otago Military Service Boards to arrange to review all cases which have already come before them and have been adjourned Sine die. The boards will proceed to deal with this work immediately after all the appeals from the ninth ballot have been heard.. So far as the No. 1 Board is concerned, it is considered that it will be finished with its ninth ballot appeals on August 10, and the combing out of the sino die cases will then be proceeded with.

The Minister of Defence recently announced that soldiers who proved unfit for active service while in training in tho camps would bo entitled to a month's pay on their discharge. Some men are finding great difficulty in collecting this month's pay. Instances have como before the Soldiers and Dependents' Relief Committee where men have applied more than once without result. One man, after trying in train, got the committee to write to headquarters for him. Tho reply received was that tho man should apply himself, giving his regimental number, rank, full name, and the reinforcement to which he belonged. As tho letter from headquarters was headed with the man's name and number, it was obvious that headquarters must have elready been in possession of all the information asked for. The committee finds that all this delay and circumlocution is most exasperating, both to the men and to those who are trying to help them. To-night the military authorities at the Kensington Drill Hall will take the names of youths between the ages of 20 and 21 years who are prepared to enlist voluntarily for active service. Last Thursday evening 16 young men volunteered and eight were found as medically fit. At All Saints' Church last Survday evening, Dean Fitchett gavje some account of Church of England activities on the various battle fronts. In France, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and elsewhere over 1000 " rest huts " had been provided at an average cost of £400 each. To these huts, offering the soldier rest, recreation, comfort, and cheer, were attached in most instances chapels for use by the chaplains. Many of their huts had been used as field dressing stations, being as close to the firing line as the authorities would allow. Kitchen cars were sent in still closer. To keep pace with the recent advance on the west front, 100 recreation tents were being supplied, each to cost £200, and equipment £100. A number of hostels for soldiers on leave had, been, established, two naval hostels, many fresh air homes, recreation rooms in garrison towns, hostels for soldiers' wives near training depots, hostels and creches for woman munition workers. Free medical attendance was provided for soldiers' wives and children, wives and mothers of seriously wounded men were escorted to and from France, and there was an organisation for sending parcels to prisoners of war in Germany. The Church of England in New Zealand had supplied 34 chaplains to the Expeditionary Force, and the number would be increased. To each chaplain leaving with troops £20 was given to be spent for the men during the voyage or at ports of call, and £700 had recently been sent to chaplains in England and France for similar uses The Church of England institutes at Trentham .and Featherston had recently been improved by the' lining • of the walls and by extra seating. Billiard tables, bagatelle and other games, writing desks, with a supply of newspapers and magazines are features of the internal equipment, and chapels for devotional purposes are attached. There was a similar institute at Awapuni, and two others were being built at Tauherenikau. During tho last 12 months 12,500 Prayer Books had been supplied to troopships and are used by Anglicans alone. Recently a non-Anglican chaplain applied f or 1000 Prayer Books for the troopship .e was serving. In New Zealand they were now raising £10,000 for carrying on their work amongst soldiers, and of this sum about £3500 was already subscribed. / The No. 2 Military Service Board will sit in Queenstown on Saturday night, alter the arrival of the ferry steamer. The board will return to Dunedin on Monday. ' A Press Association message from Wellington states that in connection with the Dominion Conference of the Farmers' Union an important conference was opened yesterday to discuss the problems of the meat and dairying industries and the shipping difficulty. In addition to the conference delegates, representatives from all the provincial executives were in attendance. After a lengthy discussion a committee was set up to confer with the Advisory Board of the Farmers' Union and draw up proposals and report to the conference this afternoon. Under a reclassification of the officers of the post and telegraph service, the status of assistant superintendent of telegraphs at Dunedin has been reduced, with, as the effect, a lowering of the salary attached to the office from £425 to £370 per annum. The Katipo, the official organ of the Post and Telegraph Officers' Association, vigorously protests against this classification. As indicating that the responsibility of the office has not been lessened or the duties lightened since tho position was classified m 1913 at £425 maximum, it says that during the four intervening years the staff has remained about the same, while the line mileage and circuits controlled have increased. Although the number of messages dealt with in the Dunedin office were 131,000 fewer in 1916 than in 1913, the revenue actually showed an increase of £3700 and, even if the war tax were excluded from consideration, the revenue in 1916 would have been £1760 in excess of that for 1913, tho inference being that although fewer messages were forwarded from Dunedin in 1916 they were longer than the messages in 1913. "Therefore," Kapito says, "let the commissioners and the department count up their data again and they will find that Dunedin telegraph office has held its own and the assistant superintendent of to-day is just as busy and important an official as he was four years ago, and the reduction of his status is not warranted." The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald said yesterday that the coal mines in use at the present day could absorb 50 per cent, more men, and rather than look for new fields it would be better to put more men into the existing mines. . In the House of Representatives yesterday Mr W. Downio Stewart presented a petition on behalf of Mrs Ellen Richardson, widow lof Mr Charles Reynolds Dalton Richardson (senior inspector of schools in Otago), praying for a compassionate allowance. In the House of Representatives Jesterday, Mr Lee drew attention to the Shag Point coal mine. Of lato years, he said, there had been an opening up of this and it was found there was a very large supply of useful steaming coal.' Originally there was a railway down to the mine, but it got into a state of disrepair, and the Railway Department was asked to repair it so that the trucks of coal could bo drawn by horse-power along the line if it was not fit to carry the weight of the engines. The department had taken up all the rails, and now tho cartage had to be done by horse power for a mile or two to the railway. Not long ago a deputation waited on the general manager at Palmerston, and pointed out that a quantity of coal could be obtained from the mine, and asked the department if could not be used by the railway for steam purposes. Nothing had been heard about the matter since then. Mr Lee asked tho Minister of Railways if he would look into the matter and see whether the coal was suitable for steaming purposes and whether it was not worth while to keep the line in such a state of repair that the trucks could be drawn along it by horse power. He asked the Minister of Railways to look into the matter and see whether this coal was of value to the dominion. If it was, let them make use of it when there was such a scarcity of coal. ■**, In tho Presbyterian Hall at Anderson Bay this evening tho Rev. H. O. Fenton will deliver a lecture on "The Land of the Horrible Hun and Little Belgium." Start the day smiling, and you will smile all day. Buy a Harley-Davidson, and you will smile for years.—Wilson, Dunedin.— Advt. Sent post free to any address on receipt of 2s: One dozen ladies' real Irish h.s. lawn handkerchiefs, Mollisons sale.—Advt. Don't ask for " Laundry Help." Ask for "No Rubb ; n*r." Else you may be victimised by setting a wretched imitation. The genuine obtainable from A. and J. M'Farlane. Princes street. —Advt. Which won? Well, if you moan whis*v, Watson's No. 10—easily.—Ad ft. A. ii. J. Blakeloy, dentist. Bank of Australasia, corniT of Bon'-' and Rattray streets Telegraph Office). Telepbonr 1659 — Advt. L.t.mch owners, motorists and others, dor.'t have trouble. Buy our Columbia Hot shot- Batter'es We hav? a fine assortment of Dry Batter'es, Accumulators, Lamp 3. Holders, etc.. for ignition and lighting purpose? —Turnbull and Jones (Limited), electricii* enf'neers Dunr>d'n. —Advt. For Influenza take Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. Nevei fails. Is 6d, 2s 6d — Advt. Eye Strain.—Consult Mr P. G. Dick, D.8.0.A., F. 1.0. (London), consulting arid oculists' optician.—Peter Dick, jeweller, «fcr"~ 490 Morav place, Dunedin.—Advt.