CHOOSING A CAREER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 88, 12 January 1928, Page 16

CHOOSING A CAREER

* APPEAL OF CARPENTRY A CHRISTCHURCH CENSUS Carpentry and allied trades exercise the greatest appeal to boys leaving school. That has been ascertained by Mr. R. B. Wells, 8.A., Dipl. Ed., Vocational Guidance Secretary of the Y.M.C.A., at Christchurch, as a result of a census taken from 633 boys who have just left the primary schools. Unfortunately the prospects of employment, at the moment, in these occupations are the reverse of bright. The ' present scheme of vocational guidance has been carried out for two years now by the Y.M.C.A., with the ? help of a grant from the Sir John Hall Trust (says the Christchurch'“Sun”).The idea is to advise the boys on the choice of a career—but not to force them into any occupation—and, if possible, to secure them employment. With this object, Mr. D. W*. Ross, Boys’ Gordon Hall Director, visited the schools last November, and addressed the boys. Cards were then sent to the schools, it being desired that each boy leaving school should fill in one. These cards contain a form of questionnaire, questions asked including the inquiry whether the boy in- , tends to go to a secondary school or a technical school, if he desires a job, the occupation he desires or intends to follow, and whether, if he obtains employment, he proposes to go to night school. If the boy is not going to another school, the parents and the boys are interviewed, calls often being made on parents if the vocational secretary is not visited, and the question of a career is discussed. Mr. Wells also interviews employers and keeps in touch with the needs of particular trades or types of businesses. ' So far, eight schools have not returned the cards sent to them. A total of 633 cards, however, has been received. These show that roughly 65 per cent, of the boys who have just left school intend to go to a secondary or a technical school, 27 per cent, desire employment, and 7 per cent, are uncertain what they propose to do. The number of boys who are going to work and want jobs is 127. There are 47 boys who have jobs waiting for them, but some of these lads are going to secondary schools. One feature is that most of Ihe boys who desire employment now are willing, according to answers returned, to go. to a night school. An analysis of the questions answered by the boys show that of the- 127 who desire jobs, 26 want to be carpenters, 12 engineers, 11 mechanics, and 3 electricians, while for other leading occupations one or two boys only are attracted to each. The replies of all of the 633 boys who have just left the primary schools, are more indicative of the appeal of various occupations. Of this contingent, 62 want to be carpenters, 11 cabinetmakers, 11 plumbers, and-'7 joiners and 9 ■ architects. Next to the building occupation ranks engineering and allied trades. Ten boys desire to be mechanics, 23 engineers, and 8 electricians. The law attracts 16 boys, while 15 want to be farmers. Journalism appeals to five boys and 14 intend to enter offices. • There is one boy who desires to become an historian, another a chinaware merchant, another an actor, another a cartoonist, and there is a boy who wishes to become a sailor. Last week Mr. Wells sent circulars explaining the scheme, and inviting cooperation from 150 representatve business concerns; So far, not many replies have been received, and some of these are not very enthusiastic regarding the prospect of employment. However, Mr. Wells is hopeful that he will be able to show fair results. One portion of his investigation of ,a boy’s merits is often an inspection of the lad’s school record, which is a point that provides some safeguard to the employer.