VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

Evening Star, Issue 20613, 13 October 1930, Page 14

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

PERMANENT COMMITTEE The sub-committee set up at the last meeting of the Vocational Guidance Committee, held a meeting on Friday at the Y.M.C.A. Mr J. L. Salmond presided. Others present were Mr Wallace (Y.M.C.A., acting secretary), Mr J. 11. Fairbairn (Chamber of Commerce), Mr W. G. Aldridge (director, K.E.T.C ), Mr W. 11. Currie (Labour Department), Miss Margaret R. Sherriff (N.C.W.), and Miss Margaret Mackenzie (N.0.W.). The Chairman stated that the business before the meeting was to recommend _ persons interested in vocational guidance, representing as far as possible educational, commercial, and industrial interests in the city, who would be willing to constitute a permanent committee. Discussion fol- | lowed briskly, in which the speakers gave evidence not only of their enthusiastic interest in boys and girls leaving the primary and secondary schools for the next stage in their career, but also that they were eminently qualified to speak for their own special departments with a most praiseworthy knowledge of boys and girls and of the movement they were seeking to promote. It was unanimously decided that the following bodies be requested to elect one member each to the permanent committee, who is interested, enthusiastic, and, if possible, also informed to some extent about _ the system of vocational guidance which it is decided to initiate before the end of this year; also to co-opt certain influential and well-informed and interested men and women and to add others to the committee if that seems advisable, while at the same time keeping it as small as possible, in the meantime, the request will be sent to the Chamber of Commerce. Manufacturers’ Association, Otago Employers’ Association, Education Board, Otago High School Board of Governors, King Edward Technical College managers, Otago Branch N.Z.E.T., School Committees’ Association, Rotary Club, National Council of Women (Dunedin branch), Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A., Trades and Labour Council, Labour Department, and the W.E.A. Mr W. G. Aldridge and Miss Mackenzie were deputed to draft a circular giving briefly some of the aims and objects of vocational guidance, as they will practice it, and probably one or two other particulars of interest will also appear on the circular, which will be submitted to a meeting of the subcommittee at, an early date. It is proposed to confine their attentions this year to boys and girls in Standard VI. leaving school this year whoso employment is not then assured in suitable positions. It is hoped to assist parents as well as teachers interested in these children in the fulfilment of their best aims, endeavouring to place the children in suitable positions. The activities of the committee, added to what is already being so capably done for those seeking employment, should prove a boon to the young people leaving the primary school at a time when such a fine" brotherly and sisterly gesture is, calculated to have far-reaching effects in their .lives. The chairman (Mr Salmond) was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Following tho example set by the Education Committee of the Dunedin brancli of the Chamber of Commerce, which has done so much in the interests of boys seeking employment, the Dunedin brancli of the National Council of Women some months ago began to explore what could bo done on behalf ■of girls. The sub-committees elected have endeavoured by correspondence and research to • clarify _ a very complex problem, to crystallise their ideas, and to express in definite form* some tangible, sensible, workable course of study and practice in domestic arts and crafts in order to provide skilled assistants for our women home makers. It is hoped to find channels through which to work out plans for tho benefit and uplift of women employers and women workers in the homes of this community. The disabilities, the loneliness, and tho status of tho “general servant” are such that of all w'omen’s occupations it is tho least popular, either with the girls themselves or their parents, and one finds that the only help in many homes are the wards of the State, who have little or no option but to go where they arc sent. The aim is to provide such a course of training in an extended course at the King Edward Training College as will enable girls taking it to rank as skilled assistants in the homo and to substitute such a terra as “homo assistant” or “household assistant” for that of general servant. It is proposed that diplomas and certificates shall bo awarded to indicate the course taken in which they have succeeded, and if they chooso to have a uniform that they may wear one during the hours of work. Though the rate of wages, when their boarding allowance is added, does not compare unfavourably with that of other occupations, a more up-to-date salary scale might be devised and rules and regulations drafted for the benefit of both employer and employed. The reward to the girls themselves would be incalculable, in that they would have the advantage of a course of training in correct methods in every department of housework before offering themselves as helpers to our w'omen homo makers. Tho training could be extended _to include Blanket nursing, first aid, or other branches of useful _ training, as well as a course of reading if that is considered advisable. Being skilled workers, they might form an association under such a title as “ Skilled Home Assistants’ Association ” or another name conveying the same meaning. As there arc no facilities at present for aa- extended course such as is indicated above in the equipment of the King Edward Technical College, tho Special Committee of the Dunedin branch of tho National Council of Women lias passed the following resolution:—“That this Special Committee of tho National Council of Women has unanimously resolved to recommend to the Vocational Guidance Committee that facilities ho granted to the King Edward Technical College ■ to enable girls taking the home science course to receive additional training in practical work. This would apply par- 1 ticularly to those girls who might wish to obtain diplomas with a view to taking up home service duties, thus raising the status of girls employed in the home.” In Christchurch a Home Service Association has for some months been co-operating with the Technical College in that city. There is a similar association in Auckland, which is affiliating with Christchurch. Dunedin has been invited to affiliate, but its reply has been deferred until a thorough study of Its constitution has been made. It is, hoped that the Vocational Guidance Committee will forward this resolution from tho council’s -Special Committee to the King Edward Technical College Board and that it, if it approves of it, will forward it with its influential support ,to the Department of Education, j Until facilities are supplied it is imj possible to make further progress.