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DEPRESSION PROBLEM

TASK FOR EDUCATIONISTS USE OF LEISURE HOURS NEW SOUTH WALES INQUIRY. SYDNEY. Nov. 2S. A brief hint was given by the New South Wales Minister of Education to the newly-appointed Commission on Technical Education to extend the scope of its inquiry into a new social realm. The increase tn unemployment, due to the depression has forced upon many people more lersurc than they know what to do with. Some have drifted into crime, or at least into bad company, and have kept the police b usy. Again, scores of others have been forced to take up work that is not congenial. I’hey have become discontented, and a discontented citizen is usually a bad citizen. All the Minister said, when he addressee! !he members of the commission, was: “It may be found on inquiry that there is a greater need to train the coirmninitv for leisure than was the case before the mechanical age was upon us.” How much or how little of the de pression has been the result of ‘‘the machine age” has not yet been settled, and it may never be settled, although it will always be a popular topic with politicians and economists. The com mission has not been asked to solve the question of unemployment, but it has been asked to suggest a remedy for some of the effects of unemployment on the social morality of the people. Search for Sound Policy. Many young people are now being trained in the technical schools for positions that do not exist. Such a policy cannot be regarded as a sound one. -and it seem? as though the commission will have to evolve a scheme

which would put them to better use. Educationists have long realised the social problem occasioned by increased leisure, and the commission represents the first serious attempt in Australia to deal with it. The commission will consider the wis dom of placing technical education in various hobbies at the disposal of the new “leisured” class. It is hoped that if the men who have uo jobs, or jobs that are uncongenial, can be soundly instructed jn. such hobbies as wireless, metal work, and cabinet work, the new interest in their lives will convert them into useful citizens and good social assets. Thirty years ago the technical schools in New South Wales were overrun with hobbyists. Since the train- - ing for a hobby is incompatible with the training required by a skilled tradesman, it followed that the tradesmen were being excluded from the schools that were originally intended < for them. There was no unemployment problem, then, and in an attempt to ■ reform the technical schools the hobbyists were driven out, except for a few ; branches. Education Withcus Benefit. Many educational authorities in Sydney say they are satisfied that a large ■ proportion of the huge sum spent on juvenile education is wasted. Excellent 1 as the system is, it assumes that every boy and girl is capable of being edu- > eated up to a given standard. Actual ( teaching experience has shown that j tens of thousands of Aoys and girls who < have expensive technical and general 1 education flung al them, as it were, have been incapable of getting any i practical or cultural benefits .from that ] education. The commission may suggest some drastic alterations and may t suggest that some of the money wasted ( on children who attend technical ( schools could be applied by giving adults knowledge they would appreci- | ate. It does not mean that they will 5 be offered free technical education. 3’hey are bound to appreciate more that which they pay ror. and some / ideas along those lines might be the outcome of the inquiry.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19331205.2.89

Bibliographic details

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 287, 5 December 1933, Page 6

Word Count
614

DEPRESSION PROBLEM Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 287, 5 December 1933, Page 6

DEPRESSION PROBLEM Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 287, 5 December 1933, Page 6

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