CALL TO YOUTH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 283, 30 November 1933, Page 17

CALL TO YOUTH.

PROBLEM OF TO-DAY. U,J <•*'- . - • ■ IS AMBITION LACKING? SIR JOHN KEITH'S CHALLENGE "There are few incentives to ambition in the modern, world, and youth to-day, conscious that most of the old beliefs have been shattered, is not encouraged to cultivate the spirit of self-help in the Victorian sense of the term. I am not sure that there is room in the world of to-day for that old individualistic type of ambition." This was the opinion of Dr. C. E. Beeby, of Christchurch, when asked to comment upon a statement by Sir John Keith (Director-General of the British Broadcasting Corporation), that mediocrity is rampant to-day, and the spirit of ambition lacking. His view, however, was contradicted by other educationists and some industrialists to whom the point was addressed, states the 'Tress." Mr. R. J. Kichards, the headmaster of Christ's College, for instance, was indignant at Sir John Keith's challenge. "The whole thing is far too sweeping," he said. "I have been only 18 months here, so I am net qualified yet to speak about the New Zealand hoy; but from my public school experience in England I can definitely say that Sir John Keith's accusations are wrongfully levelled. The English public schoolboy-to-day is as ambitious as he has ever been. I have personally known some extremely ambitious boys." Mr. Richards remarked in conclusion that it was wrong to say that ambition was not encouraged. Keen boys were always set in the path of opportunity. Industrialist's View. Mr. Richards' optimistic view was supported by M r - Jolin Anderson, jun., of Messrs. ■ Andersons, Ltd. He was asked whether the young men and women -entering business to-day were as ambitious as their fathers before them, and he answered: "As ambitious as young* men and women have ever been. Perhaps one could say that the modern youth wants more done for him than in days gone by; but on the whole he is keen and eager to get on, and is always ready to jump at any opportunity presented." "One hundred years ago," said Dr. Beeby, "it was all very well for a boy to be ambitious, for industrial expansion was providing new careers every day. But in our time we have seen most avenues of employment slowly closing up and most of the old beliefs crumbling away. And I am not sure that there is room j in the world of today for that old individualistic type of ambition. It has proved itself definitely anti-social'time after time; and in the future we must substitute other ends than purely individualistic ones for the guidance of our youth. The only in-' centive to modern youth is self-advance-ment, but even that is a pretty hopeless incentive to-day, and something more is definitely needed. That something must be a social incentive, and we must provide it quickly, or else our community life will -suffer. It can be done. Look at Russia, Germany, Italy, Japan. They are harnessing ambition to social fends in those : countries." "The-Boss Instinct." Dr. Beeby latfghed at one of Sir John Reith's leading questions: "How many boys cultivate the instinct of the boss?" He maintained that it was, useless training persons to ibe "bosses" when the majority had no earthly chance of occupying such a position. He stated smilingly that it would "probably be safer to train more boys to he underdogs; and

then ho observed that Sir John Keith's philosophy was obviously the ancient one of the "superman." "The superman has done enough harm in the world already," he said. , • ; . , But Dr. Beeby's main argument was that the old incentives were lacking in the modern world. "Up and down this country," ho said, "are >vorried secretaries trying; to get persons to exert themselves in one activity after another. A person came here recently asking me what he could do to get person* to join some classes he was running. All I could reply, of course, was that he must provide them with some definite incentive. And I have enough' faith in human nature to. say that our youth will not fail to respond if wo give them the proper call. But so far, I am afraid, that call ha 6 not been provided."