FUTURE OF YOUTH

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32403, 6 March 1944, Page 5

FUTURE OF YOUTH

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE PAEROA ROTARY CLUB ADDRESS BY MR W. WESTLAKE Vocational guidance of youth was the subject of an address given by Mr W. E. Westlake at the weekly luncheon of the Paeroa Rotary Club held in the club rooms last Wednesday. “To me it is a matter of great concern to-day not only to the individual boy whose life’s work has not yet begun but also to the town in which he lives and the country to which he •belongs that this most valuable asset, youth, should be made as useful and efficient as his talents and natural ability will enable him to be, not only to succeed in life to his own advantage, but also to give the greatest measure of service to the community in general,” said Mr Westlake. “I think you will agree with me when I say that a boy’s early ’teens is a time fraught with great difficulty both for the individual and his parents,” continued Mr Westlake. “How many boys leaving school have any ideas of their own as to the 'occupations they wish to follow when school days are over. I venture to say that not more than 25 to 30 per cent, have any definite ideas as to their future careers or goal on which their whole energies can be directed. >. No Natural Bent “That small minority are indeed fortunate in that they have an objective so necessary if youth is to make the most of those vital years between childhood and adolescence. “But what about the boys who have no fixed' ideas or natural bent? These unfortunately are in the majority and deserve the urgent consideration of parents, teachers and employers. Simply to say that any boy if given time will find his job in life is sidestepping a responsibility which should rest on those of us with years of experience, an invaluable asset which no boy can buy but one which each of us should readily make available to the boys and girls to whom we must look for the future of our race. “ What can we as Rotarians do to assist the youth who is taking the road that has no objective and in some cases one which leads to disillusionment and regret? I venture to say that the very composition of our club gives us, or should give us, a very wide vision seeing that every individual member is the representative of his calling which embraces every useful occupation. Task For Rotary “The elementary principle of Rotary as I understand it is service and I believe we could give no greater service to the community than the guidance of youth into useful vocations. To inculcate the ideas of useful service in all walks of life should be our aim. How can we establish contact with boys in our town? I would suggest that we extend to High School pupils, an invitation to attend a weekly luncheon when the subject of the talk could be one of interest and instruction. “By meeting youth on a common level we are thereby going to break down that natural barrier so frequently and unconsciously erected between youths and men of mature age. “ I have found in my profession that many men hesitate to seek advice or discuss a problem, but, once contact has been established the way is then made easy for free discussion. So should it be made possible for our youth to discuss their very real problems. Most of us have very definite ideas as to what we would do if we had our time over again, but the apparently good job has on better acquaintance perhaps many disadvantages. . “In a small community such as ours there are fewer opportunities for our youths and therefore greater opportunities for us at Rotarians to assist by counsel and advice to those choosing a career. Fools’ Way of Learning “The youth of 1914 and the youth of to-day have proved their worth, courage and ability to use the complicated' machinery of war, how much more necessary is it that we, as employers many of us, should guide them and teach them in the peacetime occupations they have chosen to follow. To me the opinion so often expressed' that boys who fend for themselves are better men for the experience gained seems to be the easy way of evading responsibility and a fool’s way of learning. Who will say that it is not better that they should avoid pitfalls rather than that we should be ready to help them out of their difficulties when perhaps much irreparable damage has been done to character. Many successful men can look back to a time when some friendly and voluntary advice set

them on the path to a useful vocation. “A boy leaving school thinks that his education is complete whereas it is only just commencing. We read in the papers only this week of a proposed Education Conference to be held in Wellington next August, proposals and schemes for consideration at that conference are invited from bodies and persons throughout New Zealand. “ I think it would 'be a good opportunity for Rotary Clubs throughout New Zealand to pool their views and suggestions and place them before the conference through the District Governor. Adult Education “The question of adult education, or, education following school years is one of first importance. Progress in education to fit youth in every walk of life cannot be brought about by acts and regulations but only by a common understanding between parents, teachers and administrators or employers and a common purpose to do our best for the youths in our care or under our direction. At the present time our leaders are concerned) with the rehabilitation of our returned men, the problems of the vocational guidance of youth will always be with us. “In our own district, a small farming community, I frequently meet cases of farmers’ sons leaving the farms to go to the cities where the , immediate prospects of better wages is their only consideration. The reason in many cases is that the farmer was brought up the ..‘hard way’ and in his shortsightedness that is the education he metes out to his son, long hours and little or no pay. What has the greater claim to the vocation and to the opportunity to make farming his livelihood ? the son of course. “I quote the case of the farmer only as an instance to show that many of our youths are forced to forsake the livelihood for which they are best suited to take up some ‘blind alley’ job because of the lack of guidance and understanding of those responsibe for their early, training. Encouragement Needed “To the youth who comes under our control as employers we have a great responsibility. 'lf he proves to be ‘a square peg in a round hole’ let us be frank and helpful by guiding him into a vocation for which he is better fitted and where he will lead a useful and happy life. He will eventually be grateful for our interest. “Behind every great musician, artist, scientist or craftsman is the encouragement given by those with vision the same vision which, coupled with daring, initiative and enterprise enables men to grasp and bring to realisation a new enterprise which benefits not only themselves and those around them, but the nation as a whole. “Vocational guidance of youth is our individual responsibility, let us accept that responsibility as a service to the community in which we live."