SCHOOLS AND THE FLAG.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2836, 20 January 1925, Page 3

SCHOOLS AND THE FLAG.

“PARR OVERDOES IT.” The Minister of Education, Sir James Parr, took the opportunity when speaking at a complimentary supper tendered him by the Thames Borough Council on Wednesday night, to reply to certain criticism levelled against part of his education policy. The modern and sound idea of education, lie said, was the allround development of every faculty dial a boy or girl possessed. Particularly did the Department seek to develop sound character, so that tlio children would have the right attitude towards their native country, and he loyal citizens, who would reverence their country and remember the great British name they had inherited. That was what was being driven into the youngsters in the school. “But,” continued Sir James, “they say ‘Parr drives it too much into the youngsters.’ Do no| believe that criticism:. The children cannot have too much of it. There are in this Empire disintegrating factors; there are things being said and done which would break our glorious 13injure to pieces to-morrow, and we musf, counter these insidious but undoubted movements in that direction. The way we do it is by giving every child a liberal education, enabling each one to think clearly and accurately and in seeing that the true lessons of history arc instilled into their minds, so that when they grow up they will not only posses# the learning of the books, but will have sound characters and will have a love of home, family, country and Empire.”