THE GRADUATE AS A CITIZEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25135, 28 January 1943, Page 6

THE GRADUATE AS A CITIZEN

" The home and family are the basis of society, of the community, of democracy, and of good citizenship,” said Professor Strong in an address on Tuesday afternoon on “ The Graduate as a Citizen,” in the course of lectures to members of the home science alumnae. " The nation is dependent on. the small communities, and the community on the family.” The speaker discussed the effect of modern conditions on family life, and pointed out that the conditions under which the people lived were created by themselves.* “Art, science, business, and government,” Professor Strong said, “ are not the controlling factors of civilisation—they are its fruits. The roots of civilisation are the elementary fundamental traits which are developed Id the family circle. People rich in these qualities will develop great civilisations." The fact that the “ new freedom" induced women to feel the obligation of responsibility outside the home, and that they were not at home when the children returned from school was not a good thing, said Mrs. Strong. She urged that women of education should seek careers in the small community, which would offer scope for their talents, and be much more profitable to themselves and their neighbours than many of their outside activities. Experiments conducted in the United States to restore community life and their amazing success were described by the speaker, and some discussion took place as to the possibility of forming community groups in New Zealand around some central focus such as a school. It was pointed out that one of the greatest obstacles to this scheme was the lack of any hall or meeting-place in the new settlements.