LOYAL BRITISH GIRL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3370, 9 November 1911, Page 7

LOYAL BRITISH GIRL.

REFUSES to bow to the stars AND STRIPES.

EXPELLED FROM SCHOOL

Katherine, the fourteen-year-old daughter of Mr. M. F. Audsley, a- British subject residing in Perthamboy, New Jersey, has been expelled from a public school because she refused to bow to the Stars'and Stripes and to declare: “I pledge my allegiance to my flag and the Republic for which it stands —one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.’' The New Jersey State Board of Education, to whom the matter was referred, support the action of the superintendent of the school. Mr. Audsley may appeal to Mr. Bryce, the British Ambassador, and if he takes this step a peculiar situation would arise, for, under the American Constitution, the Federal Government has no power to deal with such a case, and the British Government cannot deal with the State of New Jersey direct. Mr. Audsley was born in England and retains hie British nationality though he has lived in America for a number of years. Katherine and her brother Douglas are both registered as .British subjects, and Mr Audsley has withdrawn Douglas, who is twelve years of age, from another Perthamboy school as a protest, though there are no flag exercises there. Douglas 'got into boyish trouble with the other school children two years ago bv displaying a British flag and sturdily proclaiming his allegiance to the British Crown. A number of school children demonstrated their patriotism one night by gathering round Mr. Audsley’s house and hooting. The police were compelled to disperse them. Mr. Audsley has issued the following statement: —‘ ‘As long as lam a British subject my children are also British subjects according to British law. I told Katherine to be absolutely respectful and reverent toward the American flag, but she could not owe allegiance to it. I feel sure that she never, by word or deed, showed disrespect to the flag. While it is true that 1 am a British subject, that has not kept me from being an upright and law-abiding citizen of Perthamboy since 1892. “In England or wherever the British flag flies, there are thousands of American citizens who remain true to their flag, and are respected for it.” The situation is complicated by the fact that, according to New Jersey law all parents must send their children to school irrespective of their nationality. But. .what becomes of .this Jaw when the Boiard of’ Education arbitrarily insist that children shall swear allegiance to the United States under penalty of dismissal- from school? Tire New York newspapers support Mr. Audsley, and declare that New . Jersey lias made itself ridiculous by its inexcusable provincialism.