SCHOOLS AND THE WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24481, 14 December 1940, Page 10

SCHOOLS AND THE WAR

The reverberations of war are carried into all corners of the globe, affecting people of every condition and class. It was not to be thought that- the schoolroom would remain undisturbed by the shock of conflict, yet there may be both surprise and concern at the evidence which is rapidly accumulating that educational institutions in Dunedin are being hampered in their usefulness by events remote from these shores. In a recent report to her board, the principal of the Otago Girls’ High School remarked on the growing number of girls who are leaving school prematurely, to accept tions in shop, office., and factory. The headmasters 1 of other schools have commented upon, and similarly deplored, this trend. Among others, the principal of the King Edward Technical College has revealed that the war, with its demand for young men for the services and the consequent need in business and industry to replace employees with recruits from the schools, was making its impact severely felt. The technical schools, naturally, will first experience the most marked diminution in roll numbers, since their pupils are fitted —or, as Mr Aldridge makes clear, partly fitted—-to enter immediately upon practical tasks. The actual figures indicate that the percentage loss in nearly all departments has been such as to affect very seriously the roll strength of the school, and the youth of many of the pupils—on the boys’ side nearly all who left during the year are under 16 —makes it obvious that they would have been much , better occupied for another year or so at school, even when the fact is disregarded that they are imperfectly qualified to take up situations. Mr Aldridge perhaps speaks in exaggerated terms when he refers to “the cupidity of parents,” and to youth being “decoyed away from training.” The position is no doubt in large part attributable, as the vocational guidance officef for the district has suggested, to fears on the part of parents that their children will, because of wage regulation, disqualify themselves from obtaining employment if they remain too long at school. But whatever the multiple reasons for this trend, it becomes clear that it threatens the efficiency of the schools and prevents young people from obtaining the full benefit of training that would eventually equip them to accept more responsible positions in the community. It is an ironical reflection that the very regulation in commerce and industry which the present Government is pleased to consider as for the betterment Of the working classes is, by attracting their children into lucrative early employment, depriving them of the full cultural and educational benefits which the State provides for all,