LOVE OF COUNTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 181, 5 August 1935, Page 7

LOVE OF COUNTRY

SCHOOLGIRL’S ESSAY RIDICULE TO BE CONDEMNED LONDON, Aug. 2. Maud Mason, the Manchester schoolgirl whoso .Jubilee essay was mentioned in a question in the House <>t' Commons, left the House, after hearing most of the debate on her essay when Mr. Morgan Jones (Lab.) an exteacher, said he wondered how much regard had been shown for the child’s mental well-being in such notoriety. The matter was raised bv* fcfir Gerald Hurst (Con.), speaking on the motion for the midsummer adjournment, and resolved itself-into a difference of opinion concerning the circumstances in which the inspector commented that teaching was old-fashioned Imperialism or whether he told the child that she should not say Englund was the finest country in the world. 'l’he president of the Board of Education, Major Stanley, agreed that ridicule of a child’s spontaneous love of its country was a thing to be condemned. The inspector had denied speaking to the girl, and said he merely spoke casually to the teacher as the class was filing out after (Itsmissal. Major Stanley added: “I’ve accepted an expression of regret aud have told the inspector ho was ill-ad-vised to enter into guch a discussion with the teacher.” The girl wrpte in her essay, which gained five marks out of a possible of ten:—“We are all very proud of England and we are j'ruiid of the King and Queen. They are very good to the country. I’cup'v ir England ought to be proud that they are English. England is only a small country but it is better than any other country. ]t has fought many batties with different countries. In some countries when men meet they kiss, but in our country we just shake hands.” Sir Gerald Hurst asked in the House whether disciplinary action had been taken against an inspector who, it was alleged, had described the girl's essay as “old-fashioned Imperialism.” The president of the Board of Education replied that he was satisfied there had been a misunderstanding. “The inspector's words were in the nature of casual comment, and wore not intended as a reproof either of the teacher or the child. " he said. “'Die Board of Education considers it highly improper lor any inspector to discourage love and pride of country.” Maud and her mother travelled specially tu London to listen to the debate.