CONTROL OF TRUANCY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30127, 10 May 1963, Page 15

CONTROL OF TRUANCY

Burnside High Discussion

Truancy control measures suggested by an Education Department and Justice Department joint committee on young offenders were discussed by a meeting of the board of governors of Burnside High School last evening.

These measures. which have been circulated by the Director of Education, include making truancy a chargeable offence in the Children's Court, and bringing about a close liaison between police and school staffs to check on absentee pupils. It was suggested that the Commissioner of Police be asked to have officers of the Juvenile Crime Prevention branch stop and question schoolchildren wa n der in g the streets in school hours.

The suggestion had merit, but could be construed as infringing the freedom of the citizen, even if the citizen in question was a juvenile, said the chairman of the board. Professor N. M MacElwee.

“I am all in favour of the police being put in the place of guardians of the community, rather than being feared or avoided,” he said.

The Post-primary Schools’ Council has asked all boards of governors to discuss truancy problems and report to its next meeting, at which time a report on the subject from the standing subcommittee on administration will be received. Several school boards have recently advocated the employment of a truancy officer.