BOYS LEAVING SCHOOL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 January 1925, Page 4

BOYS LEAVING SCHOOL

WHICH ROAD TO 1 TAKE? A REVIEW OF PROSPECTS. ft It seems timely, just at the opening of the year, and when a proportion of the pupils of the ' schools have left, after a longer or shorter scholastic course, to consider the prospects for those young people just .on the threshold of a fresh stage in their life’s history. It is all important that they should choose, or should have selected for them a calling which is suited to their capabilities, and in which they seem likely to succeed. Naturally, there are many who have no special bent, and who will be destined to get only a limited distance in any calling which they may enfer; but it is essential to give them all that which seems to ensure the greatest success. There are, however, always a proportion of the boys leaving school- of whom their teachers can say with tolerable certainty that they have a distinct bias towards some special career, limited only by the means at their command, in the case of the professions.

It is understood that there is often a lack of care and thought in thus disposing of a boy’s future. This was stressed recently by Sir James Parr at Gisborne, when ‘ speaking of a tendency to put boys into profession s ratjier than trades, he said the. real cause was the attitude of the minds of parents towards trades. “For instance,” he said, “if a boy is an engineer and comes home black and grimy, it is quite all right, as he is in a profession. On the other hand, if the same boy were following the profession of a blacksmith, and came home in the same condition, he would be losing caste in the social scale.” . Sir James added that the very best brains of the country were needed to-dav in trades and in the country, as well as in professions. Position In Hawera. Discussing the matter with business and professional rnen in Hawera; as well as with Star representative learned much that was of great interest. The opinion of the head of the Technical High School was that there was not any difficulty in placing his pupils m good positions, and this was especially the case where they had completed a four years’ course. He was convinced that if, as was always his aim, boys were allowed to complete their course to the matriculation standard, there would never be any need to be -anxious over their future, while there would always be boys to take the good positions offering. He knew some firms who insisted on boys coming into their employ having the matriculation behind them, and they were never without good lads. He was anxious to look ahead and see satisfaction given to all. A member ,of the legal profession gave it as the experience of himself and others that it was difficult to get boys of the right calibre when required. He knew several cases where this had been proved. 'Yet it must be acknowledged that the prospects for a boy with ability were very good, for there were many avenues in the profession along which boys might proceed to success.

Prospects in the Civil Service are distinctly g00d... The Post and Telegraph Department offers inducements to applicants, taking them on probation, and their prospects are naturally governed bv the standard reached at school. The postmaster in Hawera (Mr J. P. O’Gorman} said that some tiein ago there was difficulty in securing boys, out he had lately been more successful.

Very marked is the encouragement given be 'boys entering the service of the banks. Applicants must pass the test required, and thereafter every inducement is given to them to study. All the banks foster the acquirement of knowledge "in banking law and practice, and two at least are extremely lioeral in their practice in this respect. With a view to securing a general standard of efficiency, these institutions undertake, if their young officers enrol as students and pass examinations necessary for the banking diploma—a university course—to pay all their fees from the commencement of their taking the course of study, and to pay a bonus if they get a certain percentage over "the pass, with a further bonus to the student securing the highest marks in the service. In connection with the Bank Officers’ Guild is an excellent library, exclusively of banking works, and any student has free use of all these books and may have any volume posted to him. This is a distinct privilege, for many of the works are expensive, and would he a tax on young bank officers.

Engineering and Building,

Engineering is a calling which attracts many of the best and ablest in the schools. Inquiry from the man ager of a large concern elicited the reply, “Yes, we can get boys for the fitting and machinery departments; but for the moulding, no. The latter does not appeal, and any boy who has been put to, that work ! has quickly shown his disapproval. It is one of our troubles, and i have known very few boys —practically none —stick to that. It is practically maintained by men from Home. But for the other part of the foundry I have had many good boys from Hawera schools.” The building trade, with its acknowledged high wages paid to a competent journeyman, apparently does not attract many boys. That is the experience of one of the longest-established builders in Hawera. His opinion was rather scathing of the boys who had begun apprenticeship, and lie said that only rarely had they stuck to their job. He said* the prospects for a- lad who would put his heart into the work were good enough, but added that it was inequitable that there should not be more difference in* wages between the really skilled .man and the mediocre workman. The experience of men in various businesses is that the chance of securing boys varies, from time to time. They have considerable difficulty sometimes, but lately they state they have been able to gel boys cf a good class. All heads of firms agree in their willingness to encourage boys to improve themselves in tfieir leisure hours, and give every inducement for them to do so,.

It is interesting to record the experience of leading men in the Government departments, in the professions, in business and in trades. They all seem to show that the demand for hoys is good and constant, and that, as it has been always, hard work and enthusiasm will carry a boy along the road a long way. The measure of his success will be gauged by the extent to which ho can combine these qualities with his natural abilities and talents.