PATRIOTISM IN SCHOOLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1917, 19 December 1918, Page 2

PATRIOTISM IN SCHOOLS.

ONE of the lessons to be learnt from the war, according’ to Mr T. Shailer Weston, president of the Xew Zealand Employers’ Federation, is the necessity of fostering patriotism in the schools. “Religion is not one of the subjects there taught,” he said. “Some high standard of life should be impressed upon children's mind-. Love of country seems the only one open. But something more than this is required. When every child upon beconj-

ing-twenty years of age is entitled to a vote, surely the study is most desirable in our schools of some short text book explaining the growth of Stales from small village communities, the purposes of the State, the protection and other ad-' vantages derived by the citizens therefrom, the correlative obligations due in return by its members, the purpose of laws and punishment, and in short, the doctrine of civic rights and responsibilities. A democracy to he successful must he an educated democracy. At present democracy, mainly for want of any education in.the elements of sociology, is as insistent on the rights due to it by 1 lie Slate as it is silent on its own duties towards the Slate. For example, though the Mew Zealand Labour Party demands further privileges from the

State, such as an extension of (ho benefits of the Old Age Pensions Act, it resolutely opposes compulsory service for the. protection of the State.”