Discipline for Youth

New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 515, 6 May 1949, Page 10

Discipline for Youth

HE toga sat sweetly upon the shoulders of all three participants in the recent Citizens’ Forum "Is there sufficient discipline for Modern Youth?" but particularly happily upon J. R. McCreary, who combined a_ mellifluous speaking voice with irreproachable sentiments. The trio was well chosen and

nicely balanced, with Colonel K, W. R. Glasgow, of Scots College, cast as the heavy, and the Reverend J. D. Grocott in a character role. Since, as Lecturer in Philosophy at Victoria University College, Mr. McCreary had neither cloth nor calling to hinder him he was able to speak both to and for those parents, and educators who, in doubt as to their ultimate destination, cannot define their educational aim more concretely than as "the development of the complete personality." The Rev. Grocott defined real discipline as "the direction of life to some-really good end," but true to his character role remembered the importance of wise saw and modern instance. I liked his remark that the modern child, faced with the Ten Commandments, expected that the modern examination technique of attempting only five would apply.. Actually the discussion concerned itself far more with the necessity for disciplining the modern parent. By having too. few children the modern parent eliminates the automatic discipline that obtains in a large family, suggested Colonel Glasgow. Parents may err in being either too indulgent or too severe, stated Mr, McCreary, but the worst fault was inconsistency. True discipline is only possible if the emotional climate is stable and secure, and failure to provide emotional security was a root cause of delinquency. It.was certainly a welcome change to parents and other listeners to have the modern child neither seen nor heard, but the speakers certainly made it hard for citizens to come to any conclusion about modern youth and its discipline when only the Rev, Grocott attempted to offer a sample for display.