SALUTING THE FLAG

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 94, 17 October 1940, Page 13

SALUTING THE FLAG

CHILDREN WHO OBJECT

NO ENFORCEMENT POWERS

A letter received from the head teacher of the Makuri School by the Wellington Education Board yesterday stated that three children, one of 13 and the others in the primers, had been instructed by their parents, who were Jehovah's Witnesses, not to take part in the ceremony of saluting the flag. One of the parents had brought a gramophone record to the school to prove to the teacher that their sect was opposed to saluting the flag. The teacher asked for a direction in what action she should take.

Mr. C. H. W. Nicholls said that it was clear that the board had no authority to enforce attendance at the ceremony as there was provision for conscientious objectors to absent themselves from Certain lessons, including history, and in its broadest sense the saluting of the flag could be regarded as history. They might all deplore the fact that there were people who instructed their children not to show loyalty but they could not do anything about it.

The chairman, Mr. W. V. Dyer, said that he agreed that they had no authority to enforce attendance, but he was concerned about the effect the action of such children might have on others.

The suggestion was made that children who did not attend the ceremony should be left in the classroom, and it was decided that teachers should be. instructed accordingly.