SCHOOL AND THE WORLD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22257, 9 May 1934, Page 4

SCHOOL AND THE WORLD

NEED FOR CLOSER CONTACT TECHNICAL SCHOOLS CONFERENCE OPENED. (Pkb United I'ress Association.) WELLINGTON, May 8. In his presidential address to the annual conference of the New Zealand Technical School Teachers' Association to-day, Mr T. L. James reminded his hearers of the need for contact between'the school and the world of work, and pointed to some of the ways of co-operating, and to the consequent benefits. A present time thought was that the schools must take a long view of a pupil's possible career, and advise accordingly. The smart pupil was the one who would benefit most by continued education, yet he was the one who would best fill a vacant position. There was danger, therefore, in this time of uncertainty, in the desire to secure employment. Mr James also referred to the breakdown in the apprenticeship system. He said that the 6tatus of a tradesman should not depend on the number of years spent at a trade, but upon the standard of attainment. He said that when vocational guidance became general the vocational guidance officers would be able to do something as practical economists toward keeping the supply of various kinds of skilled labour equal to the demand.