INCULCATING A PATRIOTIC SPIRIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1917, Page 6

INCULCATING A PATRIOTIC SPIRIT.

A DAILY SALUTE OF THE FLAG. ~ The necessity for, and the test means t« be adopted for inculcating in tlie minds of school children a strong national spirit,~iwas briefly discussed by the Taranaki Education Board on Tuesday, when a circular Utter was receive! erabodying a surest ion by the Xit'.cna! Efficiencv Board tliat the flu? of the Empire should be unfurled and saluted each morning. Mr. Wilkinson considered that there was a danger that if the tcachrr did not enter into the spirit of the ceremony, St might be made a mockery. From the point of view of inculcating a patriotic rpirit, somcthinj: should be d«nc, as lie was afraid a number of children were "towing up quite unconcerned about Empire matters. Mr. Smith queried this. Mr. Dixon remarked that he was as:onishcd to find bow keen even the voub? children were and the knowiedije they had of the Empire. There was no neglect in the Taranaki Province in this respact. Empire Day was always remembered bv the teachers. Mr. Wilkinson contrasted the differ*:nce between New Zealand and Canada it United Staves where the flag was an institution. The Union Jack was seldom seen here. He knew of a racecourse in Taranaki where the Japanese. , or some other foreign flag, was flown from the grandstand. Mr Smith thought that to have the flag saluted dair would cause the cercmouv to low its'signif-canc- He agreed at" the flag should te saluted every .inie a suitable opportunity occurred. \\t Trimble thought that what i..e • v '-er Board wished to inculcate had Y'-r'r'eJ out in the School Journal. .;,:, ";avc some very interesting his- .-.- :,•"•.11 dine tho Empirei » a * resolved to ra£ tb»t. the r. >icW , . "*