LEAVING SCHOOL TOO SOON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 11 December 1940, Page 2

LEAVING SCHOOL TOO SOON

CHILDREN ATTRACTED TO WORK t Concern at the number of children r who were leaving primary anu secon- c dary schools without completing their education was expressed at a meeting a of the Wellington Colleges Board. 1 when a report was received from Miss ; P. L. Jull, girls’ vocational guidance t officer attached to the Wellington 1 \ Youth Centre, who is also careers J t mistress at Wellington East Girls’ ' c College. [ e Miss Jull said that as the result of 1 c her visits to primary schools, a num- I c ber of mothers of girls still ii. primary schools had been to the youth centre to - see her. Questionnaires s far indicat- 1 led that most of the primai-y school i leavers would be attending some post- j I primary school next year. The youth ■ centre had prepared a memorandum } I for the parents of all those pupils who said that they were going straight to work or were at all doubtful about secondary education. It was thus h ed to persuade more parents to let their children continue their education. The chairman, Mr L. McKenzie, referred particularly to the number of children aged 15 years and under who were leaving school without having finished their education. All parents should be careful, he said, to take full advantage of the educational system, by sending their children back if at all possible, for a higher education. “At the present time." said Mr McKenzie. "there is a tremendous demand for young people and I consider it is not in the best interests of the children to accept positions, to the detriment of their education and possibly their whole .future." Members said that the position at all “ the colleges, including the Technical College, was such tl* .t. but for the wise i advice of the teachers, many children ; would leave school before the end of th year and before they had completed - their education.