PLANNING FOR YOUTH
Siu,—As one of the generation "that has so manifestly failed us," I should like to say how much I appreciate Guy Simmons's letter. For
years I worked in one of the voluntary organisations- for helping the youth of the nation to develop into worthy citizens. The work was both fascinating and disheartening. One saw immense possibilities in it, but almost always they receded into a faint distance for two reasons:
lack of cash and lack of leaders. The war brings both these to light. Money flows freely and everyone is busy, either in the Services or munitions, or doing what they can in their spare moments in a multitude of voluntary capacities. Leaders come forward and there is, generally speaking, no lack of enthusiasm. Cannot we see to it that some of the money, and much of the enthusiasm that permeates us now, is drafted into the service of youth after the war? National money should be used, through voluntary organisations, to supply the list of requirements enumerated in the last paragraph of Guy Simmons's letter, and I would add to his list camping equipment and facilities for travel and explora- tion on a large scale.
One thing is badly needed in our nation—that we should become more community-conscious, not forgetting the vital part children and young people play in the life of the community. And this is where our genera- tion has failed—in not supplying enough of the right type of leaders for voluntary youth organisations already in existence. Many of these organisations are the inspiration of some of our finest educationists and social reformers. It is we who have failed to interpret them aright to the boys and girls who came to us but soon drifted away again dis- illusioned. Given the right leaders (and, by the way, what is the test to be applied to prospective leaders of youth?—a stiff one, I hope!), youth will rally all right. It is enthusiasm that is needed, not compulsion.
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