THE NEXT GENERATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18357, 24 March 1923, Page 10

THE NEXT GENERATION.

TRAINING YOUNG CITIZENS.

CHARACTER FORMATION.

WORK OF THE LEAGUE.

*' The present time has been well called 'The Children's Era,' and post-war movements in the direction of stimulating the young to nobler and worthier ideals are world-wide," says Mr. C. E. Hardie, formerly an inspector of schools, and now honorary organiser of the Young Citizens' League in Canterbury, in his report on the work of the past year. "We, in our much-favoured Dominion,. should do our part, looking not to the immediate present but to the future."

Mr. Hardie says our educational system caters admirably for the intellectual and to some extent the physical advancement of our children, while the bulk of our teachers are doing their best to secure a high moral standard, but so great is the importance of character formation—that character which is the foundation of national as well as of individual efficiency and greatness—that the Young Citizens League is giving what help it can' in-cul-tivating a right attitude toward the responsibilities of life and future citizenThe question has been very pertinently asked: —"Is it too much to expect that in days of peace the qualities that constitute national and personal excellence— ice, integrity, " righteousness, honour, unselfishness, and chivalry— be persistently presented by our leaders in every sphere of thought and action as the only ideals worthy of acceptance? The Young Citizen's League is to some extent an answer to that question. We live in an acquisitive age and need to readjust our valuesto emphasise the fact that private gain is not the only motive of action, that there is a joy in service and in the consciousness of doing things together for a common purpose, that we should strive to be less selfish, loss mean, tes3 narrow, cultivating in peace as we learned to do in war a spirit of comradeship and of sacrifice for the welfare of the whole community. We take as one of our mottoes. 'Tor God and country be strong," but we can enter into full human fellowship only when he recognise our duties as well as our rights. The view of life wo are attempting to set before our adolescent youth is that of "thought and feeling, of effort and self-control, of kindness and helpfulness the life whose happiness depends far more on what we give than on wnat we get for ourselves." Mr. Hardie mentions that in all the city and suburban schools within a radius of six or seven miles from Christchnrch, branches of the league'have been formed, and he has initiated 2418 members—youths and maidens pledged "to do their best day by day in thought, word and deed, to become true and worthy citizens." In thanking those adult citizens of Christchurch who by their financial assistance have enabled the league to carry on Mr. Hardie quoted the words of Mr. Vivian Bees, president of the National Sundayschool Union for 1918:—"No truer or more abiding tribute of gratitude could we pay to our gallant soldiers and sailors than to prepare the generation that shall follow them for worthy entrance into the heritage won at so high a price on cruel battlefield or blood-stained sea."