Careers Convention

We had a little longer than usual to prepare for the Minster Epiphany Procession and Carols, and it was just as well, as we had not looked at the music before the beginning of term. A fresh carol was added this time, sung by the two choirs when they met at the West End.

The Choir Supper on 20th February was, as usual, a very happy occasion. The loss of Mr. Cummin to the Choir and Mr. Jeffs was very much felt in the informal entertainment that followed the supper but plenty of new talent showed itself and there was no doubt that the supper and all that followed was very much enjoyed by all. We thank the Head Master for inviting us.

The music sung during the term was as follows: Carols : The Noble Stem of Jesse. O'er the Hill and o'er the vale. Ding dong ding-Up good Christen folk and listen. The first Nowell. The Carol of the Star—T. T. Noble. f The Spotless Rose—Howells.

Anthems :

All they from Saba—Jacob Handl.

The heavens are telling—Haydn.

Thou wilt keep him—S. S. Wesley.

Lord for thy tender mercies' sake—Farrant.

Turn thy face from my sins—Attwood.

Services:

Jubilate—Stanford in B flat.

Communion Service—Vaughan-Williams in D minor * * with the school t new

THE CAREERS CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION

The Careers Convention was a landmark in the history of St. Peter's. It was not only something quite new for the School but, I believe, a pioneer effort in the Public Schools as a whole.

The programme gives the outline of the events of the two days. Inevitably it was not possible to see everything that was provided. Films, for example, were shown almost continuously in the Lecture Theatre, while talks were being given at frequent intervals in the Memorial Hall.

In the opening session Mr. Hugh Lyon made an eloquent plea for anyone to try to follow his natural bent without undue thought of financial reward. He was sure that in doing so a boy would find his true vocation and that, in whatever career he chose, dealings with his fellows would be the thing which mattered immensely.

The Head Master, by his emphasis on the increasing difficulty of entry to the Universities and the fact that so many boys are not cut out for that particular type of education, and Mr. Thomson, by his careful description of the different types of Technical College and the status of their diplomas, together set the note of the Convention, which was to underline the opportunities available in industry and commerce, particularly for the boy who has not been to a university. 12

On the Saturday morning we discovered that the Civil Service did not intend to be left out and the different openings which it affords were most clearly outlined by Mr. J. R. Foster, the Assistant Director of Examinations.

As Mr. Anthony Constant was unable to come to talk about "A Career as an Officer", the liaison officers of the Forces, Lt.-Commander P. J. Hutton, Brigadier W. W. A. Loring and Squadron Leader A. Blucke, very kindly formed a Brains Trust at short notice.

The boys who acted as projectionists for th- films did yeoman service in keeping the programme going almost throughout the two days of the Convention. I found it possible to see only a limited number of the films. Some, such as the Cranwell film, had a straightforward Careers appeal. Others, such as "A Career in Engineering", succeeded in communicating something of the sheer satisfaction of doing a technical operation really well. But there were others, such as "Steel Town", which did not seem to be aimed at the Public School boy at all, though they were interesting in themselves. One other thought about the films : the atmosphere in the Lecture Theatre after several hours' showing to packed houses was as thick as could be imagined! Ventilation was not a strong point, as the black-out had to be in position.

The various exhibits were admirably set out and gave all the information which might be desired. The patient consultants who stood by the various stands succeeded in answering all sorts of questions without appearing too like spiders who hoped to snap up any passing fly. The Gym. looked very well with its displays on specially constructed screens.

Though I was unable to go to the final session, I was fortunate enough to hear the recording, which gave a faithful and vivid impression of Mr. Higham's racy talk on Careers in Commerce and the ensuing Brains Trust. The flow of question and answer was virtually uninterrupted. The questions were worthy of the quality of the panel, whose treatment of them was both helpful and amusing.

Only time can show whether the Convention will have helped those who are considering the choice of a career. But there can be no doubt about the interest of boys and of parents, who listened intently to the various speakers and crowded round the exhibits.

The whole conception and its execution was a triumph for Mr. Coult- hard, who gives the School such devoted service as Careers Master, and for the large number of companies and of boys who helped him to present such a convention. It speaks volumes for the respect in which Mr. Coult- hard's work is held outside the School that such a distinguished body of speakers should have come. We owe them and him our warmest thanks. N.K.-W.

PROGRAMME

Friday, 16th March 2-0 p.m. Exhibition Opens. 6-30 p.m. Opening Session. (a) Vocation or job? Choosing the most suitable Career : Mr. Hugh Lyon, M.C., M.A. (b) The problems of University entry: The Head Master. (c) Alternatives to University Training : Mr. I. G. P. Thomson, Northern Secretary of the Public Schools' Appointments Bureau. 8-0 p.m. Informal Discussion.