SCHOOL CADETS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 June 1939, Page 8

SCHOOL CADETS

POLICY OF DEPARTMENT CRITICISED. ■ CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE RESIGNS IN PROTEST. (By Telegraph—Press Association.l AUCKLAND, June 21. Declaring that he could not visualise an invading army deciding the fate of New Zealand by contests in folk dancing as taught to boys at present, the chairman of the Howick High School Committee, Mr A. C. Trousdale, notified the Auckland Education Board today of his resignation from the committee. Mr Trousdale said he would much prefer nis son to be taught the rudiments of military drill and rifle practice. His action was the outcome of the Education Department’s policy regarding lhe undesirability of establishing cadet corps at public schools. He complained also that the headmaster of the Howick School, had refused co-opera-tion in the formation of voluntary cadet units. The board recorded appreciation of Mr Trousdale's services. 1 Mr Trousdale said tha.t, as the Education Department’s policy in ruling “that it is not desirable to establish a cadet corps at the public school, even when it is a district high school,” was so contrary to his own and his committee’s wishes, he felt he could not longer give ms .services. "At this juncture I wish to enter a strong protest against the limited powers granted to education boards and school committees," said Mr Trousdale. “We realise that our knowledge of educations matters may be limited, but as representatives of parents, I feci that our wishes in regard to their training and development should receive better consideration.”