PROBLEM OF TRUANCY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29674, 18 November 1961, Page 13

PROBLEM OF TRUANCY

Board Calls For Report Withholding th* family benefit from parents of children who frequently “played the wag” from school would be a good way to deal with the problem, said Mr D. L. Waghorn at a meeting of the Canterbury Education Board yesterday. The board was discussing a recommendation from its professional committee that it seriously considered appointing an attendance officer, because of the “suspected prevalence of truancy and absence from school for other than genuine reasons.” Mr Waghorn said the machinery for dealing with truancy was so slow that three weeks or a month went by after a report of truancy before any action could be taken. “When it reaches that stage the truant is ordered to attend the Court or return to school,” said Mr Waghorn. “He returns to school for a day or two and then he's off again. The machinery has to be put in motion again.” Mr R. W. Sansom questioned the advisability of appointing an attendance officer on the grounds of the expense involved. “The board had an attendance officer for years,” he said, “and he was transferred to other work. Is this really necessary? Surely a headmaster can deal with truancy and a member of our staff can do the work of an attendance officer as a parttime job.” Mr A. Murray, chairman of the professional committee, said he was very perturbed by the number of children absent from school and “walking around our streets.” “Probably the headmasters could do something about it too,” he said. “There are far too many children dodging school." Mr Sansom said he did not think the existing machinery for dealing with truancy was too cumbersome. “I know one headmaster who takes his car and drives around town to pick up a few truants,” he said. “Other cases have been referred to the Child Welfare Officer, but I don't know if it is really Child Welfare's job to deal With this sort of thing." It was decided that the board's senior inspector should make a report on truancy. and that additional information would be sought from the Post-Primary Schools’ Council.