“TWISTED TEACHING”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22005, 14 July 1933, Page 7

“TWISTED TEACHING”

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —In your issue of the 6tb instant you published a letter from the Welfate League on the subject of “ Twisted Teaching. The general tendency of the letter is to lead the public to believe that the schools and universities are becoming hotbeds of “subversive and anti-patriotic influences,” and the ominous phrases “ steady growth ” and “ what is going on ” are used to give point to the suggestion. I am instructed by the executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute to say that in its view such a damaging reflection on the schools and universities should not be made without the citation of facts in support of it. It is worse than useless to say that “ space will not allow instances.” If the instances exist they should be brought to light so that they can be dealt with. It may interest your readers to know where the Welfare League got the material of which its letter is composed—even the very words and phrases of it. They do not apply to New Zealand at all, but are the utterance of the president of an unimportant body of teachers in England calling itself the National Association of School Masters—a body that, like some others, tries to counter-balance its lack of importance by making a great deal of noise. This is the sort of thing the Welfare League has made use of to besmirch the fair name of the schools and colleges of New Zealand, and it ought to be dealt with in the same way as the § resident of the great organisation the ational Union of Teachers dealt with the National Association of School Masters —it should he called on to quote instances or withdraw the calumny. —I am, etc., G. R. Ashbbidge, Acting secretary N.Z.E.I. Wellington, July 12. TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —We do not require to take a vote to be able to assure Mr Neilson and his like that the majority of New Zealanders are loyal to the flag and believe in the maintenance of the family as a unit of national existence. The bulk of the people also believe in some form of religion. AH these things, love of country, the family, and religion (of any kind), are being steadily attacked by certain teachers, who are acting on Lenin’s precept to get hold of the rising generation, at all costs. The reason for this attack is candidly admitted, namely that the destruction of these “ hourgeoise ” standards is necessary before Communism can be established. We can understand your correspondent’s objection to anyone protesting against the poisonous, anti-social influences at work.—We are, etc.. New Zealand Welfare League. July 12.