Modern Generation Defended By Magistrate

Chronicle (Levin), 12 August 1948, Page 8

Modern Generation Defended By Magistrate

The rising 'generation was upheld by Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., when he addressed 36 head'and senior prefeets from 18 post-primary schools who .were guests of honour at the Auckland Rotary Club's luncheon. "Why is it," he asked, "that every older generation 'has considered that the new generation is going to the pack? I'have. heard that nonsehse many times. Too many people in the older generation have forgotten, not that they were once young themselves, but what they felt and what they thought when they were young.

"They forget the problems, real and imaginary, the hopes and fears the likes and dislikes which arose in every young life as it grew into a'dolescence, as it passed through' young manhood to full manhood. "I don't think youn^ people of today are going to une pack." he said. "On the contrary, I firmly believe that when in due course real responsibility falls on their shculders in the political, commerciai, and social world, they wiil make a better job of things than the generations that have gone before." Dealing with what he termed "the examination mania." Mr. Luxford said he was convinced that this would not solve the problem of how to ascertain with certainty the exact class of work that would suit the temperament of any particular person. He thought a good deal more could be done in this direction than is being done at the present time. He had been told thaf second year medical students were selected by competitive examination. The medical school was unable to accommodate all the students offering, so the requisite number was chosen strictly according to the percentage of marks obtained in the first year examination. "If this is true," he commented, "a grievous error has been made which will be refiected in the medical profession of the future. The first and paramount consideration, once the intellectual ability of the student has been established, is: 'Is the candidate temperamentally suited to practise medicine? Does he appear to be sincereiy interested in the art &f healing? Does he possess a personality likely to inspire confidence in the sick or injured?" "I am afraid that I am not one who rejoices when I read of the large increase in the numbers attending university. because I feel that many of those who take a degree pay a terrible price for it. A

paraphrase of well known words appear in the Book of Holy Writ comes to my mind when I think of the vast numbers who are struggLng for a. degree, 'What does a person proftt if he gains a degree, but burns himself out in the process.' c "I am not criticising the splendid work of our university. My plea is that every secondary schoolmaster or mistress do all they possibly can to dissuade a boy or giri from trying to obtain a degree unless he or she has the proved intellectual ability to take a degree in the normal course of study."