VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

Evening Star, Issue 23021, 28 July 1938, Page 10

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE

ITS PLAGE IN THE COMMUNITY NEED FOR SCIENTIFIC PLACEMENT ASSOCIATION REVIEWS YEAR OF PROGRESS “ The wrongful placement and training of our youtli is now recognised as a national reproach. To-dny there is evolving a more scientific and logical connection between school and careers, and there should be no necessity for our youths to leave school feeling that they are without guidance and assistance in their hunt for occupations in a cold and unsympathetic world,” said the president of the Dunedin Vocational Guidance Association (Mr J. L. Salmond) at the annual meeting last night. There was a good attendance. “In some respects this is the most important annual report yet presented,” said the Chairman, moving its adoption. “It indicates not only much useful work done, but also radical adjustment and development in the functioning of the association. This development indicates the very definite understanding and appreciation of the benefits to be derived from vocational guidance, not only by the general public, but also by the Government and those in control of our educational system. DEMORALISING EFFECT OF IDLENESS. “ Seven years ago we started this association, urged on by the distressing and tragic condition of the youth of the city. Employment for these was almost unobtainable. It seemed no one’s duty to advise, help, or guide our youth to suitable occupations or to help them to obtain suitable employment of any kind. The outlook for a youth seemed very black, and hundreds of young men were walking our streets with resentful minds and hopeless futures. . . ■ . “ This association set itself the task of finding suitable occupations for these young people, and where this was found impossible, an endeavour was made to provide recreational and educational facilities to fill up their time until positions could be found. the association in doing this work soon found that it was only partially successful, and that nothing is so demoralising to youth as idleness, and nothing more beneficial to mind and body and self-respect as good, solid work. v OBJECTS OF ORGANISATION. “Although much of the officers’ time had been, and still was, occupied with placement, the association had never considered itself merely a placement organisation, but rather that its chief function was vocational guidance, and that indiscriminate and ill-considered placement would be doing the youths a grievous injury and the employers an injustice. , ... .. With the arrangement made with the Government Placement Department, the association was now left to undertake the placement of all under 1», Many of the problems existing during the early days of the association s existence had changed or even disappeared, but others had taken their place. “ A NATIONAL REPROACH.” “ The association, with its years of experience, is now more able than ever to assist in the solving of these problems. The wrongful placement and training of our youth is now recognised as a national reproach, thanks to the efforts of the Hon. P. baser (Minister of Education), the Government has arranged in our educational system facilities for suitable vocational training and guidance. By the appointment of careers masters in our schools and Vocational Guidance officers in our chief centres, it is hoped that our youth will be trained and guided into suitable occupations which will assure their becoming contented and useful citizens. Miss L. E. Vial had been appointed vocational guidance officer for girls, and her appointment would be of immense help to girls seeking help and advice. This work had previously been carried on bv Mr Conlv, who would now he able to give his full time to the interest of boys. The association appreciated the assistance given by the Minister of Education, and had to thank him for making arrangements whereby vocational guidance was more closely connected with the educational system of the Dominion. Concluding, after paying tributes to the work of the association’s officers — Miss Vial, Mr Conly, and Mr N. Thomson, the chairman said that they entered the new year full of confidence that the association as now constituted would be enabled to “carry out its useful work in the community with still greater benefit, and' satisfaction to those it was trying to serve. The motion was seconded by Dean Oruikshank, and after Mr H. H. Fergusson and Mr James Hogg had spoken, was carried. “ Our work can never be easy or simple while we must work with live boys and not mechanisms, but we can bo very thankful that, in the main, the juvenile employment is so good,” said Mr T. Conly. Explaining the reason for the drop in placements over the previous year, the speaker said it was to be found in the lower numbers of boys seeking employment. Mr Conly . and Miss Vial briefly reviewed the” juvenile employment position. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of office-bearers resulted : President, Mr J. L. Salmond; vicepresidents—Messrs F. W. Mitchell, H. P. Kidson, J. 11. Fairbairn. H. H. Henderson; hon. treasurer, Mr J. R. Fairbairn ; hon. secretary, Mr E. Syrett; hon'. auditor, Mr H. P. West; hon. solocitors, Messrs Brasch and Thomson; hon. medical officer. Dr A. Perrv; executive—Messrs J. L. Salmond, F. W. Mitchell. J. R. Fairbairn, •T. R. Robertson. G. G. A dess. W. G. Aldridge, and W. W. Batchelor.