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5 -
gested to me that the test of any profession's maturity
lies in its discipline and organisation and the manner in which it exercises its powers. I have been told that many, erhaps most social workers are mature, responsible people who work quietly behind the scene to better the lot of the
poor, the disabled, the elderly, to name but a few: ..nd that on the other hand there are some who are young, vocal, inexperienced and idealistic, impatient for change and
oblivious of constraints.
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I confess that I for one am not happy with or prepared
to accept this sorting of the sheep and goats, Idealism it is true is often to be found among younger people: there
is certainly nothing wrong in that what is unfortunate is
that all too often idealism disappears with age: and what we
should be concerned with - and I hope your Symposium will
consider this xxixxkangingx@AxkaXEREŃEXİdRXİİSex Madam Chairman
is hanging on to one's enthusiasm, keeping in fact one's
idealism. Surely there had to be, at one time or another,
substantial idealism in all of us who have become social
workers: and that must be a good thing. I accept that it is the responsibility of every organisation's management to
direct their staff's energies into constructive and productive
channels. And I accept too that at a higher level, professional
associations can do much to improve standards of practices,
to encourage a code of ethics and to enhance the status of
the social work profession in the community.
......