Patriotism Cannot Be Inculcated on Schoolchildren By Daily Flag Salute, Conference

The lack of nationalism and the respect of the Algerian colors by the new generation was a theme discussed in a conference held recently in Algiers by the Algerian Islamic Scout on the occasion of the celebration of the 57th anniversary of the spark of the liberation war ( 1 November 1954).

Veterans attending the conference said the Ministry of Education made a mistake by imposing on schoolchildren to salute the flag every morning and evening, making of such a perform  a “torture”  on pupils which forces many of them to come late, deliberately, in order to avoid saluting of the flag.

Some veterans called on, instead, to revive the role of the family, the school, the mosque and the street, in terms of teaching and inculcating commonsense, patriotism and sense of responsibility among the new generation.

 This role has always been at the heart of the mission of the Algerian Islamic Scout, contrary to some official institutions which does not initiate volunteering actions, which are the pillar of patriotism, head of scout veterans, Messaoud Touabti, indicated.

However, Colonel Remdani, one of key veterans in the Algerian revolution, told Echorouk reporter that he is against calls for limiting the salutation of the flag in schools, “for I believe that saluting the flag is essential to sow in children nationalism and the values of 1st November.”

He concluded that sacrifices of martyrs for liberty could not be compared to a couple of minutes that schoolchildren devote to salute the flag.