PROBLEM FOR PARENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20959, 24 August 1931, Page 6

PROBLEM FOR PARENTS.

FEW OPENINGS FOR BOYS TURNING TO THE COUNTRY, - CITY OPPORTUNITIES LIMITED. As the end of the year approaches many parents are anxiously facing the problem of what to do with their boys when they leave school. The position was very difficult a year ago, but according to headmasters of leading secondary schools the prospects of placing boys in satisfactory employment are even worse to-day. Ten, or even five, years ago a boy of average intelligence and education would look around and make his choice among a wide variety of occupations available. To-day the privilege of choice has practically gone, and a boy is considered fortunate if he can find any opening at all. " One redeeming feature of an otherwise depressing situation is that town boys in increasing numbers are being forced too look'to the country for a permanent career. There will be gain in the long run also from the fact that many boys ,are being given a longer period of school training than thejk would have had if positions had been available for them. Since the beginning of the year 37 boys from the Auckland Grammar School have been placed in positions, and of these 14 have gone farming, showing a marked trend toward the country. The roll number at the close of the term just ended was 936, only a trifling increase on the corresponding figure of 928 for last year Civil Service Closed. At the end of the year Grammar School boys were accustomed to go out in large numbers to posts in banks and warehouses, insurance houses and commercial firms. These avenues headmasters find to be very restricted at present, and the Civil Service, which used to absorb so many, is to all intents and purposes closed. Not a single pupil from the Takapuna Grammar School sat at the last Civil Service entrance examination, as it is recognised that under present conditions this examination offers no prospect of engagement whatever. The professions, too, are almost closed, partly because they are so crowded and partly also because economic conditions make it impossible, for many parents tc face the expense involved in providing a professional training for their boys. The headmaster, Mr. H. J. D. Mahon. states that last year only two or thref boys went from the Grammar School to law offices. Training College Applicants. About the usual number of boys are expected to be seeking admission to the Training College from the Auckland and Mount Albert Grammar Schools, and they will be of an exceptionally high standard, many of them having reached the higher leaving certificate standard by post-matriculation study. There ara fewer vacancies, however, at the Training College, and that means that many boys of outstanding qualifications will ba forced, into the general market and so make it harder for the average boy to get a footing. In the experience of Mr. F. W. Gamble, of the Mount Albez-t Grammar School, some of the boys who had been placed in commercial positions from school during the year have already been thrown out of employment through the prevailing slackness. The public would be surprised to know, he said, the number of boys who take up farming from secondary schools. Of 23 who had gone' to positions from his school in the last two months 10 had gone to the country. Headmasters find it very difficult 1o advise parents in these times, as one avenue after another that parents would like their boys to enter is practically closed and the most that the majority of them can hope for is an opening in a commercial house. Many, look on this as an opportunity to qualify in accountancy, but that profession is in danger of becoming as crowded as the legal one. The pressure of present conditions has meant fewer boys than usual leaving the Takapuna Grammar School * during the year. About 10 went to employment last term and- of these two took up positions in the country. A drift to the eountrj next term is expected by the headmaster, Mr. C. M. Littlejohn.