MISFITS IN LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 208, 3 September 1927, Page 24

MISFITS IN LIFE.

CHILDREN AND VOCATION. DIFFICULTY OF, CHOICE. RESPONSIBILITY ON THE TEACHER (By G. EDITH BURTON.) In an article "What I Think About the Rising Generation," by Maude Hoyden, in the "Woman's Pictorial," the writer touches briefly on "Vocations." She says: ''The head mistress of a school for young children tells me that after an experience of twenty years she ia convinced that those children who were born during or soon after the war are finding it extraordinarily difficult to concentrate on anything for long. They lose interest very quickly, and if they are kept at their task by authority they become restless or apathetic. Is all this good or evil? Certainly there was something a little unadyenturous in the old-, fashioned idea that one must choose some career early in life, and stick to it at all costs for the rest of one's days. I remember the thought that all my life was to be cast in the same mould, and that to the end of my days I must walk along that same path, filled me with a sense of revolt, so that I admire the audacity with which such a boy or girl light-heartedly throws up his or her post and starts off on the terrible adventure of getting another." The "Thro w-Up-Your-Job" Attitude. The writer of this article evidently shoulders no responsibility; she fears not any harm she may do restless young souls, and is impervious to the censure of the powers that be in these matters. While the "Vocations" subject is causing such a stir, the above extracts seem curiously apropos, but it is doubtful whether Miss Royden would have many supporters in her light-hearted "Throw up your post if you don't like it" advice. It is "because" an apprentice or student of either sex "must" stick to his or her job that the choosing of that job must always be such a responsible matter.

To try to set an age for the making of this choice is surely not only futile but very unwise. Just think of the tremendous difference in the mentality of children of 12 or even 14, though they may even be at the same stage in their education. 1 have, known boys who were almost men at 12, and who could have been safely trusted with the choice of their own future. And I have known other boys of the same age and standard who were still prancing round with feathers round their heads, fearsome knives belted round them, and faces diabolical with war paint, who had never even given life a thought, unless it be as a circus hand or a tram conductor. Girls, too, at 12, who would never be children again, and who were getting ready for a life in "Movie Land." And again, those of the same age who took their dolls to bed at night and who thought sundry pots of toffee made the world quite a decent old place. Then the long-suffering, overburdened teacher is pressed into service. He or she must surely know what walk in life must suit Mary and Susie, Bill and Harry, best. Facility as a Guide. There is no doubt that teachers are in perhaps the best position to know what their pupils can do best, but what a responsibility parents are loading on the teachers—to ask them to say that-be-cause John draws excellently he should be a draughtsman or an architect, or that because Jim is wonderful in the wood-work class he should be a cabinetmaker.

Neither is the fact that Clara learns without effort and has a sound idea of expounding knowledge going to make her teacher say decidedly that Clara must turn to the teaching profession; or Maiy, who generally renders the best first aid in the school, must train for nursing.

It is not always the thing one does beat or. with least effort that is going- to bo the beßt vocation forgone. How often do we hear grown men and women say enviously, "Ah, you are a—. I always wanted to be one, or that, but my people, because I was good at —> put ms to that; but I always had a sneaking regard for your work." It is one of the great vexations of life to .be "good" at one profession or trade and to yearn terribly for quite another life. Then there are the fortunate ones who ' know from birth almost what life's work they want to take up, av>d they make for that life with unswerving steadiness. It ' often happens that obtuse parents, officious teachers put deadly obstacles in their way and delay terribly the starting off point, but they arrive triumphant at last. I have known one such, who, while apparently bending to parental control quite satisfactorily, was all the time studying at night for his own desire, and at a very early age he was a chemist (all but his years behind the counter) and an accountant. It is a sore trial to parents when a son or daughter, after perhaps two years expensive tuition, plucks up courage to "strike" with the harrowing excuse, "Well, you know mother and father, I really didn't like it ever, but you were so terribly keen I thought I'd give it a go-" . The Saddest Case. The saddest failure, in life is a man who has taken-iip some vocation to please his parents, and who has rather foolishly, married at a very early age. He has never liked his work, but he dare not give it up now he has others, to think of, so he goes on to old age, loathing the toilwhich earns'-his daDyjrbread. .In a good many walks/of "life there are chances of trying, it not the-actual life, one very near >t, and if .it be possible to do this with girls or boys at an early age, it is often most successful, and is not quite the same as letting them chop and change from one vocation to another. For instance, a boy who is, as he puts it, mad about farming, might spend a vacation with farmer friends, who could make things fairly strenuous without actually trying to sicken him. A girl who has set her mind on nursing, though fw j- S a PP arent, y not much ability in that direction, could, before burning her boats at a training hospital and incidentally causing a good deal of expense, ry the work at a private hospital, and s ° ch °osing of a life's career is so very important that there is nothing one should hesitate to try to secure itf , being the right 6ne. " secure its