PATRIOTIC WORK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 233, 20 June 1918, Page 3

PATRIOTIC WORK

A TAX ON SCHOOL CHILDREN BOARD PROPOSES LIMITATIONS The Wellington Education Board at its meeting yesterday adopted the following report from its executive committee:—"The executive lias, in conference with representatives of the Headmasters' Association, recently considered the question of patriotic work undertaken in eon- ' ncction with our schools, and it recommends the adoption of the following report. On the one hand the board recognises the desirability of allowing school children to take part in some . patriotic, philanthropic, and altruistic work, but only so far as this can bo done without reducing the efficiency of the school. "The information before the board indicates that of late a considerably larger proportion of the time of both teachers and pupils has been occupied by such work than the best interests of the schools will justify. It is therefore necessary to impose some restriction in regard to this work:— (1) That the board's approval should be obtained before any collection or patriotic work is undertaken at any of the schools. (2) In relation to the following applii cations now More the board, that in those cases where it can be arranged a collection to be approved for one day to be determined by the teacher— (a) Mayoress's Christmas Pudding Fund. (b) Red Cross Copper Trail. . ((;) Navy League collection of bottles and. tins. ( "In Tegard generally to the work of • the Navy League, the board has on a previous occasion- commended the work of the league. It now resolves ' to express approval of the objects and aims of the Navy League, and asks its bead teachers to favourably consider the advisability of establishing branches in a their schools. It trusts that head teachera will, as far as is consistent with the proper working of their schools, facilitate the operations of the league. It may ho that in some districts the members of the league may prove of considerable assistance in addressing the children on specific occasions. This should, however, be only by pre-arrangement, and in such a way as not to disturb the work of the school."