VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE IN BORSTALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23222, 21 June 1937, Page 6

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE IN BORSTALS

TO THE EDITOR

Sir—A recent report shows that the English Prison Commissioners some time ago arranged to make an experiment in vocational guidance m borstal institutions. The borstals, hitherto, have made no pretence of giving thorough instruction in any trade, but it has always been recognised that congenial work is most important in character-building. "It is now generally agreed," says the report, "that in the treatment of crime the aim should be to reform—to re-shape—the offender by building up in him new habits of thought and of action." The results of the experiment have now been reported, and were considered so satisfactory that all housemasters in English borstals are receiving instruction in the methods employed. " The study of temperament, we are told, "must on no account be neglected by the vocational adviser.' Even from failures important deductions are to be drawn. These suggest, that "until our knowledge of incentives is increased considerably, the borstal system cannot be expected to produce completely satisfactory results." What of our New Zealand borstals? Is there any attempt at vocational guidance in them? Has any skilled investigation of temperament been made so that the right individual incentive to better conduct may be supplied? As the years go on and our courts grow less ready to commit to borstal the milder cases that need no such confinement, the proportion of failures increases. Would we not usefully take a leaf out of the English book, and, by calling in the help of science, both deal with the young delinquents and also protect society from a repetition of their offence?—We are, etc., N.Z. Howard League for Penal Reform.