FASCIST THOROUGHNESS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1932, Page 3

FASCIST THOROUGHNESS

ADHESION TO DICTATORSHIP

An Italian royal decree lias made it compulsory for every university professor or lecturer in the institutions for higher education in Italy to take a .special oath of allegiance not only to' the Crown but to the Fascist regime vnd to give thus a formal and- unreserved adhesion 'to the dictatorship "of signor Mussolini. , "

The new oath reads: “1 sweat"* allegiance to the King, his royal siteecs'ors, and the Fascist regime. 1 prOni'si' loyally to obey the Constitution :ilirl * other laws.of the State, to teach 'and fulfill all other academic duties wbh the purpose of educating honest citizens, faithful ito the country and to the Fascist regime. T swear not to -'belong, at -present or in future, to suC-li associations or parties the activities" ol which cannot be reconciled with the duties of my office.” With this hew )..-,th imposed upon all Italian protestors, the Fascist control on education becomes complete. Signor Mussolini knows too well that the future of the Fascist regime lies in Hie schools and in the universities, and he has accordingly taken the steps necessary to train the youth of‘-Italy in a strict Fascist spirit. For a long time recruitment in the teaching personnel lias been subordinated to. political considerations. All rectors of universities, deans ol faculties, and headmasters ol secondary schools aie now exclusively selected Irnm men we eing the Fascist, badge, preferably ol live years' standing. Professors are dismissed when they give outward expression of their anti-Fascist toolings, lhoie are 1225 professors in Italian universities. Of these 1132 have taken the new oajth ; -81 have not yet sworn because absent 'from Italy or for some other temporary reason, but will do so n c •non as they return to their post. Only ,11 .have, declined to take , the oath.