The Hawera Star. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1927. VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 26 January 1927, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1927. VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE.

Delivered every evening by ' 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa FJltbam, Mangatolti, Kaponga, Alt-m llurleyville. Patea, Waverley, Mokoia. Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere. Frasei Road and Ararata.

One' of the most practical steps towards the solution of the problem which confronts parents at the begin'ning of a new year has been taken by the junior department of the Y.M.C.A. 'in Christchurch, which has circulated •;i questionnaire among 700 Sixth Standard schoolboys with the object of ascertaining their views regarding their future careers. The boys were asked to state their hobbies, whether they were continuing their education at secondary schools, the occupations they desired to follow, and whether they had work offering upon leaving school. The replies followed the lines that would be expected by anyone who knew anything about- boys. Some were vague about the future and what it might contain for them; their minds were filled more by the importance of getting the most enjoyment out of life day by day. Others knew what they wanted to be, or thought they did, but they did not know how to go about the 'task of finding out if the desired occupations were as attractive at close quarters as they appeared from a dis't.ance. The question regarding choice of hobbies provided scope for variety and novelty in the answers; it is on record that one boy had a preference for trotting, but most of them found pleasure in some pastime more suited to their years. Of the 700 boys questioned. it was found that 429 were going on to High School or Technical College, 107 wished to go to work, but knew of.no openings. 0.l had work to go to, and 53 were indefinite in their choice of employment. The Y.M.C.A. has gone further than the mere collection of statistics; it- has used the knowledge so gained to endeavour to assist those who had no definite choice of occupation to evolve some ideas on the 'subject and it has also endeavoured to find openings for the boys who had' a decided preference for a stated occupation. A point has been made, of course, in all dealings with the boys of the desirability- of continuing their education at. night classes if the ordinary secondary school course is for 'any reason impracticable. Parents have been circularised, offering assistance in three directions: (1) Choosing rhe vocation; (2) finding a position: and (3) planning further education. Business firms have been informed of the Association's activities and its desire to ,be of service in filling vacancies. The director of the- Vocational Guidance Department interviews boys, parents arid employers, rind generally endeavours to bring tin right parties together. It ran be seen ihat this work is likely to develop immensely in the future, and already' if lias been suggested that the Government -night set up an organisation to carry it on. The handing over of the task of finding the right job for the right boy to a State department would be, to our mind, fatal to the success of n most promising scheme, and in making that statement we are not reflecting upon the capacity of Tim Public Service. The work being carried on bv the junior division of the Y.M.C.A. in Christchurch is directed by a university graduate, who has specialised in vocational work. It is quite conceivable that already he has found the work has grown beyond the capacity of one man to handle it and that there has arisen the need for assistance in keeping track of all the boys, parents and employers lie has to deal with; but though the work may be calling for the inauguration of a system, entailing greater expenditure than the Y.M.C.A. or any other organisation can afford to bear alone, it does not necessarily follow that a State system should be adopted. State aid may-be desirable and necessary, but if there is a possibility of saving square pegs from round holes, it is certain that it will not be realised by adding it to the re-

sponsibilitics of an already overburdened State. More self-reliance is needed in this country; we are too prone to evolve ideas and then “put it up’' to the Government to carry them out. It is not, however, that we wish to save the Government’s time and monev that, we deprecate State administration of the proposed scheme, but because rvo see possibilities iu the scheme that would never be realised if it were left to a State department to run. The personal touch must play a big part in getting the best results out of the scheme. The men in charge ■must, have personality and more scope for giving it play than would be possible if they were subject to hard and fast State regulations. If there is a prospect of making the country more efficient, by the adoption of some such scheme of vocational guidance as the Y.M.C.A. has inaugurated, it will be a good investment of State money to provide some of the means for carrying it . on: if individual contentment and well-being will be promoted by it, it is worthy of the support and encouragement of parents, and if it will provide trades, commercial houses, aud professions with an even' flow of suitable recruits it will warrant enthusiastic. co-operation by those interests. And as it develops, the scheme will not lack appeal to the primary industries, for the Y.M.C.A. report shows that there are boys who are anxious to undertake work in the country as a permanent occupation, but. are held back by ignorance of the best wav in which to establish contact wtill rural sources of employment.