Post Primary Pursuits

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 151, 29 June 1935, Page 3

Post Primary Pursuits

WHERE CITY’S SCHOLARS ’GO,

Some interesting returns as to the destination of pupils leaving secondary schools in Palmerston North were submitted to tho Board of Governors at its annual meeting on Thursday night. Boys’ High School.

Tho following is tho destination of boys who left school during 1904: Continued full-time education at university college, 3; school teaching or entered training college, I; clerical: Government or local body service, 16; banking, insurance, I; legal, 5; commercial, 8; engineering, surveying, architecture, 1; various trades and industries, 8; shops, warehouses, 36; farming, 19; total, 9S. The following aro destinations of boys who have left school so far this year: Clerical: Government, 3; legal, 3; commercial, 3; engineering and various trades, 7; shops, 7; total, 93. Technical School. The following tablo shows the destination of pupils leaving the day school during or at the end of 1034:—University college 1, Government or local body service 3, legal office 1, commercial offices 16, engineering, surveying, architecture, 9, various trades and industries 3S, shops, warehouses 44, farming 99, home (and not included elsewhere) -IS, domestic 7, on extended holiday 4, no occupation 9, paper run 2, nursing 9; total 197.

Occupations: It is interesting to note the occupations of the 524 students on the roll of the evening school at July 1, 1934: —Engineers and mechanics 33, electricians 11, plumbers 23, woodworkers 4, painters, plasterers 3, printers 6, clerical pursuits 156, domestic pursuits 49, dressmakers, milliners, etc. 5, employed in warehouses or shops 119, engaged in various other trades 13, agricultural pursuits 21, professional pursuits 29, no occupation 49, ’occupation not stated 4.

Employment: To an increasing extent the school was used as a labour bureau, with the result that many young people were placed in employment in trades, shops, offices and farms. The figures as to the destination of pupils leaving school were somewhat illuminating, said Mr. J. A. Nash (chairman). It was natural ‘that a number of girls should be retained in their homes, but the number of girls ■who had been placed in positions was rather illuminating. Even more boys •from tho Technical School than from tho High School had left to take up fanning. Tho returns were most encouraging.

It was remarkable, said Mr. J. "W. Rutherfurd, that of 197 boys leaving the Technical School last year, only 47 went to trades, and that of 541 attending evening classes, only 91 went to trade classes. He would like a further

report from the director analysing these and kindred figures. Without further information it was difficult to know the causo for tlio low proportion of trades students. Possibly it was the result of a natural tendency among boys, but possibly, too, they were over-emphasis-ing the clerical side of technical educa tion. Mr. Rutherfurd asked the director to prepare a return for the past five, years,-and if possible to secure a comparison with another similar school in some other centre. Girls’ High School. During 1934, 39 pupils left, of whom 19 secured employment, 10 transferred to other districts, and 10 remained at homo to assist in domestic duties.