TRAINING OF BOYS

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 275, 16 August 1932, Page 10

TRAINING OF BOYS

Part-Time Education EMPLOYMENT SCHEME A Suggested Solution “Present-day industrial training is turning out a series of specialists, and this is bad both for the industries and for the boys,” was the view expressed by Dr. C. E. Beeby, professor of psychology at Canterbury College, in speaking on the juvenile unemployment problem, at a meeting 'of the boys’ unemployment committee in Christchurch. Dr. Beeby said that the aim should be to train boys in a fashion that would- give them the quality of adaptability. A change in the method of industry might well undo In a few months everything that any one boy had learned during five years of apprenticeship, turning him from a skilled worker into an unskilled labourer. This had an obviously harmful, effect on the community. Dr. Beeby added that education did not end when a boy left school, and he suggested that there should be closer relationship between education and industry. System in America. In America the larger industrial concerns provided education for their employees by maintaining a school alongside the factories. Dr. Beeby explained the points of his twin-apprentice-ship proposal. He suggested that legislation should be passed making it 'impossible to employ any boy or girl below the age of sixteen years'for more than half-time, and making it compulsory for every child below that age to attend school or other classes for at least half-time. Any employer wishing to engage a boy would engage a pair. Each boy would alternate, say, a fortnight on the job and a fortnight in school, and would be paid only for his working periods. & As to unemployment, either the number of juveniles in employment below the age of sixteen would be doubled, or vacancies would be created for older boys and girls. Those employers who objected to working under the scheme would be able to take on older boys for full time. This would give relief where It was most needed. Constructive Suggestion. Mr. L. F. de Berry said that the scheme was worthy of earnest consideration. It was the most constructive that had so far come before the committee. There should .be a closer relationship between the factories and education, and the best parts of the old apprenticeship system should be brought back into Industry. He suggested that the committee should urge a group of industrial men to make an experiment on the lines of Dr. Beeby’s scheme. A sub-committee of teachers and employers was appointed to consider the proposal. /