DRILL IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1660, 29 January 1913, Page 5

DRILL IN SCHOOLS.

1 A NEW DEPARTURE. / CIRCULAR FROM INSPECTOR. / GENERAL. At yesterday's meeting of tho Wellington Education Board' a circular memorandum was received from Mr. G. iiog- ' bon (Inspector-General of Schools) nddrcssel generally to tho secretaries of cduca- - tion boards. .This stated,that in view of tho provisions of tho Defence Act, 1912, aha tho'. Education Act, 1912, the arrangements hitherto in.force with respect f : : to. military drill in public schools must ' bo regarded as having terminated on Dei /. comber 31, 1912. "• >-;:■'...'.'.• •• ''.'. '"Under Section .G of th 9 Education • Amendment Act, 1912, arrangements'may •.:. bp;■' inndo for military drill ■ in ; .public schools where there are approved instructors. For the present a public school in connection with which thero is a fullyI . .equipped, company 'or detachment 1 ih charge .'of some one holding under the regulations in force last year ,an nppoiht- '. ment as-.an officer of tho junior- cadets may bo'regarded as a school in which . , military.drill may be given/to,boys be- ,..'.-■■ tween the ages of 12 and 11 years. Sec- ;;.; tion '6. further -provides that military drill so given, shall be subject to inspection at such convenient times as may bo arranged, with''tho Education Board by an ofli- , cer appointed by tho Commandant of De- ■-.- > fence, Forces. It is understood that the Defonco'Department will also endeavour to provide, as far,as circumstances allow, opportunity for instruction. As military drill in public schools will henoeforth bo carried, oiit., .in .accordance'.with-regula- ' tiohs under., the iiducatidri Act it should . be clearly understood. that officers' uniforms may not be worn ,by those in' - chargeof -such- drill- unless they.'arb.-ofii-r .cers in tho.Territorials or in'tho senior •> .■■■■ cadets..:.-.;,-.. ;*-■.. .-.''.':■• :.'.'/: •.,.•-

department -i recognising that -many teachers are interested 1 ih ; milI ; ltar y toll wjll,,it-j 5 -understood, mako ... orery ..effort to provide for'those- teachers who may: wish <to. join either tho Territor- ■■•■■■'': }5,25~ lnl £* 'senior cadets. Applications ,■■■ v ■??•.'■■ V ln Cltncr branch,of , tJie IMcnco -~'■',.-forces' should be addressed to the Com- , aandant ;,of, the: Defence forces? The ■•' 13 that':the. number of ' such applications win be . considerable. . definite decision has as'yet been arrivand swords issued-to officers sinco 1510. ; It is not proposed to call in the enuin ...'. . raent (consistiV of-'jersey, -cap, Wt i - : ' «Sl P K' m •' h ? c . a ? t °'"f-schools where;^ 2&K™ n i m r miht ? IT driU wiu not' ho -. , continued,:. In, such cases all the equip- - went except the jersey will require To* be .leturned to store. .It is proposed io ary.;-; rango for.targetwactico with tho Hazard :.'... i, .air-ritla. outfat.; For the present, however, ; . schools .have been ..using miniature . , v ranges,(.22,nilc): will be' allowed- to con- .-/.-. tinue todoso.":. : .■'; f;,:;'- ,:'■ -. -'/ -Accompanying;; this , circular : is a list of ■-~ .schools, in connection with which junior •7 c ™°* • ««Ps-.-- and detachments have been : I v: v established. The ,list (shows,: also, the .... corps, etc., to: which- equipment-has issued.vand the schools having facilities lor; target practice; ..'" .-:. '-.... -.--, Mr, ;A.;'W. : ! Hogg -took >the occasion.to vent an emphatic opinion against military ■;■'.,■ 'drill in schools;'.."AVo want physical ex- ' v erases, not military drill. ;\Vb want what ■■•■■■ ... will the scholars strong men and' :,-■... . women.. Military .matters should be left'' ■'. '..-.' ■ to';the.>militaiy, authorities, and ifit.is to bo a; feature of: our school 'training, then it is. a. .very, bad 'feature.-. If Mr. -..•Hogben hadn't : something' better to do, .sthenhe should be told about it." "■'■ 'ii H r ' n Al . len v (smilingly): You ought to ... bo hack in the House. '■■'.-• "/, Tho chairman: It has always been a sore :': ... point, with ■_ Mr. Hogg. • There lias-been ■..;■■ military: drill in schools hero sinco 1874, -. when there was;a cadet.corps attached • ; '- to the Ghuzriee Street School, under the j.;.. control of • Mr. Holmes. < ;• •..,.'., ' .-'■, ;-.- Mr; Aitken: "Holmes' '■. Warriors" ■"' they '. were called, I fancy!., ' ■~■■"■ ■ -'.': j Tha-.chairnian: There .'the'companies ... wore uniforms. He .was. suro: that the drill tho ;boys were given'helped to preserve, discipline, improved tho tone of the . •;. ■ school, and was the means'.to an 'end- of pany things. ' ■ .