VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE.

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 December 1928, Page 12

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—A few weeks ago a communication reached the Executive of the New Zealand Educational Institute from the Directors of Education on the subject of the pupils about to leave the primary schools, and who will not be going to the secondary or technical schools. The Director refers to the desirability of something being done to assist them in getting employment. This question of unemployment of the adolescent has always appealed to the Institute as an exceedingly important one, for it is just at that turning-point of life that young people are in the greatest need of guidance. The Executive of the Institute, therefore, had no hesitation in making an endeavour to fall in with the suggestion of the Director of Education, and steps are being taken to set up in larger centres committees composed partly of teachers and partly of sympathisers. These committees hope to be helpful in meeting the requirements of a means of communication between the youth leaving school and a prospective employer. Operations for this year must be necessarily on a very small scale. This is unavoidable on account of the late period at which the movement was commenced. But it is hoped that even this year something useful may be accomplished, and at least the field will have been surveyed and knowledge gained by which future activity can be guided. There is ample evidence that the work is both urgent and difficult, partly because the young people concerned have not the qualifications and recommendations of college training, but come straight from the primary school. Unemployment is the very worst experience that can befall the adolescent ex-pupil. He would be much better kept at school, even if he had to be paid to go there, then allowed to go to waste and get into mischief and lose the habit of working that he learned at school. But that is beside the point for the moment. The immediate purpose is to endeavour to find means of bringing the youth and the possible employer into touch, and it is in pursuit of that purpose that the committees of. the Institute in several localities have offered themselves for this service. Any of the Branches of the Institute will be pleased to do what they can to assist. I am, etc., H. A. PARKINSON, Secretary N.Z.E.I. Wellington, December 7.