YOUTH PROBLEM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 40, 17 February 1944, Page 6

YOUTH PROBLEM

CONTROL WEAKENS

TRUANCY AND LAXITY

The problem of child delinquency was discussed at length yesterday afternoon, when the Director of Education, Dr. C. E. Beeby, and representatives of various Auckland educational bodies attended a meeting of the Auckland Education Board. • . Shocking conditions obtained in Auckland, .said the chairman of the board, Mr. W. J. Campbell. While wonderful work had been done by the recently - appointed visiting teachers, who had done full justice to the positions they occupied, it was contended that something more drastic must be done. Numerous examples of child delinquency, involving theft, attempts to burn down a railway station and other misdeeds, were quoted by Mr. R. S. Webster, a representative of the Headmasters' Association. The accounts had been gathered from various headmasters. Jjnck of Parental Control Mr. J. W. McGechie, who also represented the Headmasters' Association, said there had been a slackening of moral fibre in adults. This process had been going on for a number of years, and the tendency had been hastened by the war. Parental control, which was most important, seemed to be either weak or Jacking. Some parents had asked headmasters to deal with their children because they had no control over them. Parents, he said, should be made to appear when their children were brought before the Court. He questioned whether eflicacy was not being lost by the conduct of the Children's Court becoming too routine.

Another representative of the Headmasters' Association, Mr. R. A. Watson, said he had had 30 years' experience in social work from Kaitaia to Wellington. He quoted the case of a family of five living in one room, and gave other instances of bad housing conditions, which were providing a most unsuitable environment for children. The number of cases of children appearing before the Court was increasing, he said,- and produced supporting figures. He urged that headmasters be given greater authority to deal with the problem. The question of greater control being exercised over the admission of children to pictures not suitable for their entertainment was voiced by Mr. A. Gilbert, president of the Auckland School Committees' Association. The manager of a theatre, he said, had no power to prevent children attending films classed as suitable for

adults only. The slang spoken in American films was having a deleterious effect on children's language. Not enough was being done in the way of providing recreational facilities for children. Another representative of the School Committees' Association. Mrs. F. Mcßride, J.P., said that first and foremost parents must be made to toe the line. "Absolute piflle" was the description of some broadcasts by another member of the association, Mr. F. C. Pace, who said the ' more bloodthirsty programmes appealed especially to children. Education in the right use of leisure had not been sufficiently stressed. The need of greater control in a case where the larger portion of a park had been taken over by a camp was stressed by Mr. G. H. Wilkinson, member of the Grafton School committee. He stated that deplorable scenes could be witnessed there at any time of the evening. Girls were associating with servicemen, and children were to be seen, even on a Sunday morning, with their hands through the fence for cigarettes. An indication of the work they were doing in connection with truancy was given by Misses E. I. Casey and I. D. Earle, who were recently appointed visiting teachers. In many cases, Miss Earle said, children were handicapped by the ignorance of their parents, rather than through neglect. The difficulties of mothers who had to act for both parents as a result of the father being overseas was pointed out by Miss Casey. In cases where mothers were working, it was possible for children to be absent from school without their parents' knowledge. "No Crime Wave" "I shall not be satisfied while there is one single case before the Courts," said Dr. Beeby. The raising of the school age, and increasing the powers of attendance officers would prove important factors, but the problem could not be solved by negative action. "I have the greatest admiration for the children of to-day, and for their parents in making ihe best of bad jobs," he said. "Some are making the worst of a bad job, but we cannot condemn all for the

actions of some." He outlined some of the steps being taken to meet the position, such as the experiment of visiting teachers, efforts to establish children s holiday centres, and the holding up of the staff of the Child Welfare Department. Regarding truancy, teachers should demand notes from absent children, he said. Headmasters were firstly responsible for dealing with truancy and the Board of Education also had powers in this matter. In connection with control over the showing of films for children some action could be taken locally by providing suitable alternative entertainment. This was a matter lor parents' associations, churches and other bodies. The child of to-day faced problems which never had to be faced bv earlier generations, and the solution required the efforts of all. Regulations alone would not solve the pioblem. Greater local efforts were necessary. A resolution was carried bv the board that as the evidence pointed to a marked lack of parental control parent-teacher associations shouW be set up in every school.