Country Trends For Vocational Guidance

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28256, 18 April 1957, Page 5

Country Trends For Vocational Guidance

Country post-primary school pupils are showing a new appreciation of opportunities in the country and no “deliberate” drift to the towns is evident in the opinion of the District Vocational Guidance Officer (Mr G. C. Brookes), after tours of South Canterbury and Mid-Canterbury. “Of course we probably see only the more thoughtful pupils—these interviews are not compulsory and we meet only 10 to 20 per cent, of all pupils compared with about 30 per cent, in the city —but I have the impression that more than in the past intend to take up work in rural areas,” Mr Brookes said.

Where pupils were thinking of jobs in the towns, it was simply because the training or vocations they desired were not available in the country. It was only right, said Mr Brookes, that country children should not be penalised by their location. But in the vast majority of cases, any thoughts of a move to, town were held with the idea of later return. School Summary Mr Brookes picked up a summary from one school visited recently. “Out of 23 pupils interviewed, 10 made inquiries about preparation for agricultural occupations of one kind and another, eight (including some of the 10) sought university or professional training, and eight wanted trade training,” he said. Third form pupils tended to ask about the “glamour jobs”—air hostess, hairdresser and florist for girls, and jet pilot, naval serviceman, and top-dressing pilot for boys. The significant point was that none of the children seen recently was thinking of financial rewards but rather of a satisfying vocation. One boy wrote down “manger” as his choice. Pressed for an explanation, he said: “I want to be a manager or a school teacher. Which do you think I would suit?”

One factor which had added to the appeal of open-air life and more independence in the country was the great number of field officer type of jobs now available, Mr Brookes said. Government departments offered many such opportunities, ranging from valuation to agricultural extension services; big firms now had larger rural staffs, and there were many advisory positions for women. Farming was a very popular desire of many youngsters but they also wanted an easy answer on how to get their own farm.

Mr Brookes said that many country boys with no family property had this ambition but even more in the cities had the

same ideas. Anyone offering easy terms of land settlement would be popular with today’s youngsters. Even boys planning to take up trades had thoughts of going back on the land with the idea that a trade would be useful on a farm and that it would be handy as a second string if farming pursuits failed. Visits Voluntary Mr Brookes said the Christchurch Vocational Centre desired to give country children, as far as possible, the advisory services available in the city. Most country post-primary schools (both State and private) were visited in the first term and again in the third term. The others had their single l visit in the middle term but it was i hoped to increase staff to give all; schools two visits a year. Schools were advised in advance so that pupils with their parents could meet vocational guidance officers. Although verbal guidance was offered on the spot a considered written report was sent to the pupil later to avoid any! possible misunderstandings said Mr Brookes.