Nagging worry—not alarming

Press, 14 September 1976, Page 21

Nagging worry—not alarming

“The Press” spoke to 20 local secondary, intermediate, and primary school principals. Nearly all are adamant that truancy is not a problem at their particular school. The sole exception was the principal of a secondary co-educational school in a lower income area. He says that although truancy is not a major source of alarm, it is a nagging worry always present. “While certainly ■worse than at Christ’s College or Christchurch Boys’ High School, it would shape up alongside similar co-ed schools,” he adds.

However, he does not believe that socio-econ-omic factors are relevant to the problem as such. It is more often lack of pa-

rental influence than lack of wealth, he says. The consensus of opinion among the principals spoken to was that the single factor most often related to truancy is a pupil’s home background. Unco-operative or conniving parents, and lack of supervision and control, are the significiant elements in connection with truancy.

Most pupils at a singlesex school are likely to be highly motivated and geared to academic achievement, according to the principal of one such school. “Our pupils’ aspirations are high; they are conscious of the need for qualifications.” Social background is not a factor since the introduction of zoning, the principal believes.

The principals of two private secondary singlesex schools say that their schools have a very rigid system of checking pupil attendance. “Besides, if parents are interested enough to pay the bill at the end of each term, they will be interested to ensure their children stay at school.”

Judging by the remarks of the 10 primary and intermediate principals consulted, the tendency towards truancy increases in forms one and two. “Pupils in this age group are beginning to realise they are no longer young children, but are not being treated as adults. They have incipient feelings of revolt against authority.”

Another believes that school problems such as

truancy that had once been largely confined to secondary schools, are becoming more evident in the forms one and two age group. t

The headmaster of a district high school believes that an almost total absence of the problem at country schools might be attributed to the fact that

country children are often less sophisticated than their city counterparts. There is also considerably less scope for illicit activities preferable to school.