EDUCATION COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1497, 20 July 1912, Page 6

EDUCATION COMMISSION.

. NAVY LEAGUE ASPECT. The following statement is the text of I a written, statement submitted to the , Education Comn\i>«on by Mr* Cecil W. PiiJmer, Aon. secretary of the Wellington, branch of Hie JVarj- league:— On behalf of tho Nnv.v league, I would respectfully point out that, in many cf tho schools in -the Dominion there is serious neglect of British Naval history. While, instructors in public schools of other nations are paying pirticular atteutkai to the development among their pupils of a sense o€ duty to their country, pride in the past and'hope for tho future of their race, in many of pur schools our most glorious naval history (to which our nation owes its present position of security and prosperity) is >prac,t),cally ignored.. Ignorance and apathy in this matter constitutes a serious peril. If we, as a. nation, intend to hold our position of leader of the civilised world, tho coming generation (including all. classes) should mest certainly be taught to fully realise how vital to us .is the retention .of "Command of tho Sea/' which was won for us by tho tremendous efforts and self-denial of our forefathers. As a -means of -facilitating the teaching, of. naval "history, the "league strongly urges the-adoption of: the Navy League. Map Handbook, "Britain On. and Beyond, the' Sea," as a class book;- or, failing.-this, that , copies, of the book should be supplied- to eac/i and "every teacher in the Dominion. The book has been compiled by an expert, schoolmaster specially for schools; and many teachers have expressed their warm appreciation ef the work, nearly 2000 of which have already been distributed by the Wellington branch alone, among, the elder of tho juvenile members of the Navy League during the past five years.