A SPECIMEN OF PROMISED REFORM (?).

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 27, 22 June 1914, Page 6

A SPECIMEN OF PROMISED REFORM (?).

! To the Editor. ! Sir,-During the past few weeks 1 , Have met a fair number of persons in- | teJ'uvted in school committee work or I otherwise connected with educational I i»utters, and i was very muoh surprised l'< mid that not one had made t'hem- | w.?«t acquainted with the contents of i lii * lion. James Allen's circular to Edut cation Boards relative to altering the ■ conditions of free place tenure, eto. It will 1)0 recognised, I think, that it is { not right for the Minister for Defence ! ir his capactv of Minister for Educa- | tiou, to impose restrictions ujion or in <any way subvert the administration of j one department for another, However. I I hope I can obtain space to reprint | the article, and it should prove of inI t'- re ■ t to parents, whether t'hev be in iavor of compulsory training or otherwise, as showing to what extent "Relorm" will go when a man with a hobbv is placed in important public positions. 1 would ask if the injunction "Honor thy father and thy mother,'' etc., is to jbe of any viluc nowadays? An:!, also, is it_ right lor any man in liigii State positions to enter a, man's household -md cause Km youth of that household by force to act- contrary to the orders or the wishes of the lo ad? Becau e il e' parent holds op'nions contrary to those of tho JaHumkeis on such .i oiiestion as compubory tra'ning, the children of such, no matter how high their scholastic ability, are to lie debarred ■the advantages given by tiie educational system that has been held up to the world us allowing the poor man's son : the same chance as that'of the rich! 1 It parent does not conform -with | whut is made the law of the land, devise sojne means of bringing him into line with those that do, well and good, but don't punish the young by denying tliem their entitled advantage.-! if capable and because they obey their parents. Talk about discipline! Are not the Defence authorities, by the issuing [ and carrying out of this regulation, j breaking up the best of disciplinci—that of the home? If a boy of 14, because of his ability, can earn a free place or scholarship, or later oil become entitled to Civil Service place, why should •his parents' opinions be a bar to his advancement. The law holds the parent responsible for the child's doings till he reaches tho age of 21, and if the youth, when attaining that age, refused to take up his duty in the defence scheme, well, then, punish him, but don't at the outset prevent iliis advancement. Now, I appeal to all shades of political opinion: is this justice that is inaugurated by tho present Minister of Defence? It must not be construed that I am opposed to compulsory training—we h-aVe compulsory education, compulsory health •regulations, etc., and no one will gainsay the benefits, but at the same time I certainly think, and time will show, the same, opinion is held by an Immense 'majority, that we are going too far for the pockets of the taxpayers, and a muc.li simpler method (which will be of benefit to tho growing yo.ut r m) inaugurated. Tho regulation, which in one tap has stultified the advantages of our free education laws, is as under: