OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22025, 7 August 1933, Page 12

OPPORTUNITY SCHOOL

WORK OF THE Y.W.C.A. The first term of the Opportunity School, as organised by the Y.W.C.A., came to an end with July, and members are at present having a two weeks’ vacation. Classes have included such skills as quilting, needlecraft, Karitane methods, shorthand, and typing practice, housewifery, knitting, and embroidery, as well as more recreational subjects such as book lore and singing, drill, basket ball, and folk dancing'. It has been the aim of the committee to maintain regular hours of class attendance on five afternoons a week. Thanks are due to a very great number of instructors and assistants who have given their time voluntarily to make these classes possible, as well as the vocational guidance officer, headmasters and mistresses of secondary schools and the Home Science Extension Department, all of which groups have co-operated in various ways. The number enrolled during the term totalled 58, of whom 34 per cent, completed the full course, while 36 per cent, left to go to positions, 10 per cent, were prevented from completing through illness, while the remaining 20 per cent, must be confessed to have dropped off through lack of interest or general slackness. Of this last group it is fair to surmise that in the majority of cases the co-operation of parents must be lacking, and it must be recognised that the lessened morale of this group through existing conditions is one of the very worst features of the present situation and of very grave import to the community as a whole. For the girls who do attend these classes until" suitable employment offers the association can fairly claim that while the equipment available makes no pretence of giving anything approaching technical training, the personal efficiency of the girls has been maintained and their self-esteem built up. At a meeting of the Employment Committee of the Y.W.C.A., held on Friday last, the curriculum for the next term was considered, and along with that general lines of policy. It was defi nitcly reiterated that every effort should be made to urge all eligible girls to attend technical classes, although it was also recognised that there were still a number of girls without work in the community who should be catered for by the Opportunity Classes.