PARENTS’ PROBLEMS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 3041, 24 January 1929, Page 6

PARENTS’ PROBLEMS

PLACING YOUR LADS. VALUE OF EDUCATION. Speaking at the "break-up of a leading boys’ college at Wellington, says the Mercantile Gazette, a prominent business man remarked that the standard of education possessed by young men entering commerce to-day was much higher than that held by those of a past generation. He pointed out that it was not unusual for a young man to remain at college until he was 18 or 19 years of age before commencing his business career, and that therefore those now entering commercial houses were much better equipped than those of a decade or so ago.

"While in some cases business firms may prefer juniors of from 18 to 20 years of age, we'think it wise to point out that in the'majority, of instances a lad should not be over 17 years of ago if he wishes to find a" suitable opening.

Wo arc afraid that parents will be labouring under a misapprehension if they take’ it for granted that the remarks attributed to our worthy friend are of general application. Our experience is just the reverse. We have found that it is difficult to find suitable openings for young men who are really too old to take posts as office juniors, and yet have not the necessary experience to/fill more important appointments. If a lad intends to embark on a professional career it is usually necessary to take an intensive course of study before proceeding to the but for a business career we think that from two to three years at a good secondary school or college is sufficient. Obviously if a young man specialises in accountancy, or in some other avenue of commerce, it will be needful for him to study at the University or at a business college, but this study can be followed while he is pursuing his daily avocation. If it is possible for a youth to matriculate before leaving college he

should do so, but not at the expense of having to remain at school until lie is 19 or 20. ' "

Tn pm (die ally any business the man who has commenced as office boy and received practical training in the various departments, is the one who is destined to make the greatest progress in the years to come. In our experience a la! who skips the junior work, as it were, and, because of superior education cr some other factor, secures an apparent lead on those who have had to commence at the bottom rung of the ladder, misses that initial training to a tremendous extent. We have heard it argued that it is ridiculous to keep a lad at junior work for six or twelve months when-he -can master the rudiments of the job in loss k than a month. The fact remains that a young fellow starting several'steps up the ladder seldom, if ever, docs get the training of those who gravitate from the bottom, and this shortcoming never seems to be ■overtaken. There may be exceptions, but that Is the general rule. It is noteworthy, moreover, that where sheer merit lias found free and full expression, the manager or head man of practically. every business is a, man wdio worked Iris way, up from “licking .stamps. ’ ’

We fdesire, in no way, to decry the benefits of sound education, but in our opinion too much emphasis is placed on college training nowadays. There is a tendency for many youths . to feel superior to the menial tasks that fall to the lot of. the youngster .just' starting

his business career. They fail to realise that the conscientious discharge of similar duties provided the very training and experience that has made their fathers successful business leaders.

It is not easy to dogmatise, but while five or six years at a college may quicken the mental faculties of some students and enable them to quickly overtake and pass in subsequent years those who have not had the benefit of such training, it is a fact that in many cases the developing of their knowledge of art and the social graces leaves them less suited for practical business than they were at the outset of their college careers. A great deal naturally depends on the youth himself, but parents should realise that the mere fact that their sons have the benefit of several years at a good college will not, in itself, fit them for a successful business career. A common complaint about our modern system of education is that the product of our colleges knows a little of • a great many things, but not very much about any one item, and that frequently a young man’s job appears to make little or no call on the knowledge he has gained at college. We do not hold with this view," because in our judgment if a lad is of the right stamp, possessing initiative and good mental equipment, he will unconsciously benefit by his education and apply, his energies to the mastering of his job. Experience has shown that the man who has a disciplined mind, whether trained for a special job or not, will soon find himself. In similar fashion, a bright lad will soon make up by application for any deficiencies of schooling that stand in the way of his progress.

In conclusion, w r e would state that even if a young man of 19 or 20 is willing to start at the bottom of the ladder in a commercial concern, the position is most difficult. More than likely he will be junior to several lads who arc his seniors in respect to office experience only, maybe two or three years his junior in point of years. The position is unfair to the newcomer, and also to the other junior members of the staff. It is on this account that firms, as a rule, do not accept the services of juniors over 16 or 17 years of age. Another point is that, provided good juniors arc selected for vacancies there should be no occasion to go outside for lads to fill intermediate positions; that is to say, such posts should be given to the boys who have been through "the mill,” and fresh juniors appointed. This is the point of view accepted by most commercial houses, and is a factor that needs to be borne in mind by parents who have sons wishing to enter trade.