VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 82

VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE.

LOCAL MOVEMENT. During? the last few months considerable interest has been taken by a number of citizens in Dunedin in the question of the undoubted need of giving guidance to boys girls in their choice of employment. While some very good work s being done for boys by the Y.M.C.A., it has been felt that a scheme with wider scope ie necessary, and a small committee has been meparing one. It is proposed that public meeting should be held in the near future to discuss the question with a view to setting up a Vocational Guidance Association in Dunedin, and Mr Caughley, Director of Education, has promised to be present and to give the views of the Education Department, which is very interested in the proposal. Meanwhile a tentative scheme has been prepared for the consideration of the general public, who will later have an opportunity of expressing an opinion on it. The term “vocational guidance” is used to signify assistance given to boys and girls in the period of adjustment from the life of school to the wider life of adult citizenship. Such adjustment requires a period of time covering some years of adolescent life, beginning before th*. schoolleaving period and continuing through the time of training for work and for full citizenship. A vocational guidance scheme should make available to every juvenile help and advice in the selection of vocation, in further education both eneral and vocational, and in the right use of leisure. This advice should be based on careful study of local conditions and individual records, and should be available throughout the period of adolescence. As this work cannot be dealt with adequately by voluntary effort, which is in touch witli <? certain section only of the community, and which may be regarded as having some ulterior motive, it is suggested that vocational guidance is a matter for tin Education Department, being primarily an educational question, which should be under the surveillance of expert educationists. It is proposed that in any centre the work should be carried >ut under a local committee representative of all interests touching the welfare of voung workers. The following constitution is suggested: —Representatives of parents, teachers, employers, workers, social and recreational organisations. It is proposed that—1. A bureau bo established in a central position available for all u ovs and girls working under the direction of the local committee and responsible to the Education Department. 2. The committee should have the services of an executive officer, chosen for special knowledge of education, social and industrial conditions, psychology, i d with experience of work among adolescent boys and girls. , ' , t , 3 That the committee should have the power to set up subcommittees for particular purposes and to appoint to these outside members chosen for special knowledge. 4. The functions of the committee should be: (a) To arrange that boys and girls under 13 years of age shall receive, either directly or through their parents, information and advice with regard to choice of suitable employment. (b) To study the state and conditions of employment, both local and general, so far as these affect the prospects of boys and girls in the area. 5. In order to carry out these duties the committee should: (a) As far as may he desirable arrange in co-operation with the head teachers of day schools, for the holding of conferences with parents of children eligible to leave school. (b) Register and scrutinise all applications of vacancies leceived frem employers, (c) Select applicants for suitable vacancies and submit to employers the names of such applicants. (d) Bring the facilities offered by the bureau under the notice of employers in tho area and as far as possible maintain close relations with these omnlc>yers. (e) Preserve for its own use all information furnished to it, together with such records as to the employment of individual boys and girls as may be found desirable, (f) Prepare surveys of the principal local occupations in which bovs and girls are employed and keep such surveys up to date, (g) Take opportunity to encourage boys and girls to continue their education after leaving the clay school. 6 In .organising this service the committee should (a) as far ns possible avail itself of the assistance of other organisations for promoting tho welfare of boys and girls. (b) Invite the co-operation of teachers of day schools and evening schools for tho purposo of establishing close relations between the school and bureau. (e) Make arrangements with the Labour Department, for the interchange of valuable information, (d) .Provide for the compilation of statistical reports. 7. Meetings of the committee should bo hold at regular intervals, and in goneral not loss often than onco in three months. 8. (a) The committee should arrange that tho head teacher of each day school should furnish information as regards employment obtained by any pupil before leaving school. (b) If required by the committee, there should also be furnished, not less than six weeks before the date of leaving, reports as to the conduct and capabilities of pupils about to leave school. (c) Tile committee should also be furnished with a report on the

physical capacity of any pupil who desiros to obtain employment through the bureau, (d) The committee will arrange that applications for employment are duly registered, and that on their receipt the pupils, and if possible the parent® concerned will bo interviewed before the end of the school term on bohalf of the sub-committee, and give information and advice as to the prospocts of employment and facilities for further education and recreation. 9. Boys and girls desiring employment who have left school and are below the age ot 18 should apply in person at the bureau, and will be registered and assisted on the same lines. The cost of the system would include (1) rent healing, and lighting of office and waiting-room; (2) furniture; (3) salary of otlicer and clerical assistant; (4) telephone, stationery, and equipment.