PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND MILITARY DRILL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12857, 29 January 1913, Page 5

PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND MILITARY DRILL.

THE NEW SYSTEM,

A DEPARTMENTAL NOTIFICA-

TION.

DISCUSSED BY THE WELLING-

TON BOARD

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Jan. 28. Tho Education Department has issued a circular memorandum to Education Boards throughout the Dominion reminding them that in view of the .provisions of the Defence Amendment Ac*, 1912, and the Education Amendment Act, 1912, the Arrangements hitherto in force with respect to military drill in public schools must be regarded as having., terminated on December 31st last. Under section sof the Education Amendment Act, arrangements (in accordance with regulations to be issued in due course) may be made for military drill in public schools where there are approved instructors for the present. A public school in connection with which there is a fully equipped company or aetachment charge of someone hoi ding .-under, the regulations in force last year an iappointment as an officer "of iun.ipi:,^ade.ts,,.,may be regarded as a schoolr.lfl", \yfijchj drill may be given to Boys between the ages of 12 a*rd 14 years. Section 6 further provides that military drill so given shall be subject .to (inspection! at such convenient times as may be arranged with the Education Board, by an officer appointed by the Commandant. It is understood ."that the Defence Department, will also endeprpur to provide, as far .as circumstances alloHv, opportunities for instruction. It is proposed to .arrange for target practicewith the Hazard air rifle outfit. For the present, however, schools that have been using miniature ranges (22. rifle) will bo allowed to continue to do so. When the circular came up for discussion at to-day's meeting of th& Wellington Education Board, Mr A. W* ■Hogg expressed the opinion that they should not make military drill a feature of their education /system, and Mr Hogben, Inspector-General, should be told that very plainly. Military drill F he was glad to say, was in its "decadence in this country. Mr J. Kebbell said that a good deal of the success of the present Territorial scheme "was owing to/ the drill/ given in schools in the past. The Chairman (Mr R.~Lee) pointinoto the usefulness of the Cadet system, said that from the year 1874 there was a cadet corns in Ghuznee St. school,, and the boys were then in uniform. From .what he bad seen he believed that military drill had helped discipline ■ in the schools to .a great extent. The Board will co-operate with the Defence Department in carrying out the Act. . ■• • ■ "