SQUARE PEGS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 77, 13 December 1940, Page 46

SQUARE PEGS

O you think girls to-day D are keener — more intellectually equipped?" *No — I don’t think the human oprain has altered since — well, since the days of the Bible. Today it is only the expression that is different." I wanted my point. "But to-day they have more advantages?" She lifted an amused eyebrow. "Do you think so? Well, perhaps in some ways — but in many others, I think, the modern girl is living under a disadvantage compared with past generations. People knew how to live then — life was not so restless or hurried." Our conversation took place in a small, simple, furnished office. On the door was the printed notice-Vocational Guidance Officer. A fascinating title. Full of unknown possibilities. An interesting job — smoothing off square pegs so that they would fit nicely into round holes. Trying to arrange life to some sort of organised plan. The woman before me, I thought, was eminently suited for the task. She had a wholesomeness, a sameness, and a healthy humour that would reduce mountains to molehills. I asked her about her work. Not Without Glamour It occupies a big part of her life. The other half is devoted to teaching -geography and home science. To the uninitiated these sound rather grim ‘terms-till she starts to tell you about them. Then they take on the glamour of her own creation. ’ As she spoke, some part of that glamour was communicated to me. Vocational Guidgnce, though comparatively recent in New Zealand, has been established for many years on the other side of the world-England, America, and the Continent, though each defines it in a different way. But they all have ‘the same end and object — to place PA sro. people into their proper niche in li "We don’t wait," she said, "for the young people to come to us — we go pout after them. The Primary Schools are our starting-off ground. With the co-operation of the teachers, we find what particular aptitude or ability the students display, then we guide them in their next important step-as to their choice of a Secondary School. Some remarkable talent is unearthed — _ par‘ticularly in the engineering line. So — boys we ~ -- towards it.

"Pathetic and Appealing" "What is the most popular calling for girls?" "Clerical duties, I think, office work, typewriting and the like. There is a steady demand for this type of work, and girls seem attracted towards the life." "How about journalism?" "Oh, we have those too-all kinds of professions. We never advise them, however, to follow a career that holds no scope or opportunity. Most people have ability in more than one direction, and we suggest the best for them. These. young people, the boys and girls who come here to us for guidance, are pathetic and appealing in their youthful uncertainties. It is such satisfaction to be able to unravel their problems — to discover the one essential thing they are trying to express, and to set them on the road towards it. They are always so grateful for our help." ‘Do you actually help these young people towards securing positions?" "Yes, that comes under our Placement Department. We are in touch with leading employers in the city, and they frequently ring us here, knowing that any applicant we send along will be fitted for the job. It has sometimes happened, when we are interviewing some boy or girl in here that a ring will. come through notifying us of a vacancy which they are ideally suited to fill. That is one of our happier coin~ cidences." "What about the mothers?" She smiled at that. , "They are dears-so anxious to see the best for their children — but, oh, so often misguided. Because the father, an uncle, or a grandfather have all been in the same job, they want their children to follow on in their footsteps, irrespective of whether they are suited or not. Actually, I much prefer to interview the young people alone. Then they ‘can express their inclinations without

fear of disapproval — and it makes our part so much easier." Blame the Movies! "Do you have any problem childTen?" "A few. For these we set a questionNaire which gives us an indication of their standard of intelligence." "What ages does your Vocational Guidance cover?" "With girls up to twenty-one yearsand with boys up to nincteen. It simplifies things for us, of course, being able to keep in touch with them through their school years. Often the children are very amusing. They have such romantic and misplaced ideas about jobs, I think motion pictures are partly responsible for this. They glean their childish impressions from glamour girls in beauty parlours — or immaculate secretaries posing negligently behind impressive screen desks. We _ usually manage to straighten things out for them." "Now tell me something of yourself," I said. "When you are not a Vocational Guide?" "Well, there is nothing very interesting, I’m afraid. Half my day 1 spend teaching geography and home science." "Do you find people interested in geography?" "To be even reasonably intelligent, I think, you have to be interested in it to-day. The world map has come to life for us — to say nothing of its rapidly changing boundaries. It. must be a disheartening task for the cartographers." Geography at First Hand "Are you a New Zealander?" "Well, I suppose I am — I’ve lived here all my life, though both my parents were English. I took my degree at Cambridge and have taught in various parts of the Dominion. I was lucky enough to fit in some travelling during my leaves." "Geography at first hand?" "Yes," she said, "it was all very fascinating to me. I was abroad the last time in 1937, and I am grateful now that I saw some of the world before this present upheaval and destruction." "What countries did you visit?" "England, America, the Continent, and South Africa. South Africa I loved. Paris and Budapest were my favourite cities. The latter is a glorious place standing either side of the river. The women are strikingly beautiful, and they dress perfectly. If a Budapest woman only possessed one frock to her name it would be of exquisite cut and design. I have so many delightful memories of my travels-and they have given me a broader, finer vision of my work." I thought, as I left her, that she herself had found her niche.