"PLAYING THE WAG"

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 21, 25 July 1933, Page 14

"PLAYING THE WAG"

WANDERLUST IN BOYS

CAUSES OF TRUANCY

"Cases of truancy, I find," said Mr. E. G. Kidling, principal of the Wellington Technical College, at a meeting; of the college board of governors last night, "are usually due to the development of wanderlust, which was characteristic of our forefathers. It always turns up when a boy is fourteen or fifteen." Mr. Kidling, in reply to a question as to what steps were taken, to deal with boys who were playing truant, said that occasional cases of truancy did occur at tho college, but he always discovered a case a day. or two after it had been committed, and then had a talk with- the offender and his parents. After that, he generally found that there was no more trouble. When boys were away for longer periods letters were sent to their parents. Mr. J. J. Clark said that the children should understand the value of the free-place system well enough to take" advantage of it by always attending college. ■Mr. Eidling said that children did not realise the advantages that were available to them. A very large proportion of the parents of Wellington, ho said, did not know that a proficiency or a competency certificate would allow their children to attend a secondary school free. "There may bo different causes of truancy, but there is this fact," said Mr. C." H. Chapman, M.P., "that the number of students on the college.roll is. 2527. To my mind that to some extent is an answer to the question, 'Do Wellington parents realise tho advantages of secondary education?' Since the beginning of the year," continued Mr. Chapman, "108 boys and 27 girls from the Technical College had been placed, in industry. If they had not attended a secondary college their chances of obtaining employment in industry would not have been so great." Mr. Clark said lib was pleased to lenrn that the truancy question at the college did not appear to be as serious as it was reported to be in Xapier.