Vocational Guidance Officer Retires

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31907, 7 February 1969, Page 12

Vocational Guidance Officer Retires

Vocational guidance should begin at thirdform level in schools so young people could set goals, said the district vocational guidance officer for the last six years in Christchurch (Mr W. J. Boyd) at a farewell function yesterday. He has been appointed to a similar post in Auckland.

Many people considered a ijob was a simple thing, he said. Getting a job was a difficult business for some, especially the handicapped. Although the placement aspect was only one side of his

work, he received most satisfaction from helping people. •Mr Boyd said pupils who had been given goals at school had, from being “little devils," made significant progress. He advocated the use of “occupational models” and said one or two schools had tried this. It was a part of education and helped to give purpose to individuals.

The function was attended by representatives of the services, industry, the University of Canterbury, Government departments, and school principals.

A key man such as Mr Boyd had to get out and know people, said the superintendent of education in Christchurch (Mr S. S. P. Hamilton). In education people were often a little coy in the use of publicity but Mr Boyd had used it as a way in which to give more effective guidance. Auckland, with the largest Polynesian population in the South Pacific, could use a man, with Mr Bovd’s abilities, Mr Hamilton said.