FUTURE OF BOYS

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19515, 2 March 1935, Page 14 (Supplement)

FUTURE OF BOYS

Way Out of the “Blind Alley.” Problem of Boys Who Are Turned Adrift.

The urgent problem of boys without futures, who enter blind-alley occupations and arc turned adrift between the ages of, 16 and 18, is to be tackled on a scientific basis this year, 'says a London paper. There aro many thousands Of messenger boys, van boys, and boys in similar non-progressive jobs who are now to be watched carefully, given instruction, and assisted to transfer into more permanent employment before they become too old. “ This problem is no new one," a Ministry of Labour -official lold the News of Ihc World, “but willi the great help Ihc employers arc now giving ami through .our 30U Vocational Guidance Goirimiliees and Ihe local education -authorities, wc are going lo tackle litis problem more vigorously Ilian ever I his year. “What wc want lo do is lo see that every boy or girl entering a blind-alley job all-ends an evening instilnlo, or, wilh Ihe co-operation of their employers, allends a day continuation school. “In this way they will receive instruction which will be of assistance t ofhcm in finding a more permanent job, and, in many eases, more permanent employment will lie found for them before they arc too old. After Leaving School,

so that at tho right moment we can hoist them out of these blind alleys and put them into progressive employment." ■Mr Valentine Bell, the superintendent of the Battersea Juvenile Instruction Centre, who -has had many years’ experience in -dealing with this question, and who -has just reported on the problem of the unemployed juvenile to the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, believes that blind-alley jobs aro not harmful, providing that the hoys arc properly watched and looked after. Scientific Placing. “ You must have errand boys and van boys,” he said, “ blit Hie trouble is Dial, in most cases they are not looked after. The majority of hoys have In go out to work at 14, and obviously it is a good lliing for them to try their wings. “What wc have done locally is to make an arrangement with most of the employers lo let us know three or four monlh-s before the boy is to be discharged, so that every effort can he made lo get him another job which is not a blind-alley one. “ J l'ccl that were the boys of 14 lo 18 in compulsory attendance at continuation classes, we could help them, where now they just lose their jobs and drift. “ The trouble will} most of these boys is that they do not get any real interests in life. Take our experience with the unemployed juveniles. The average age of the boys who are now being compelled to attend juvenile instruction centres is 17A, yet 80 per cent, of them have never been to an evening institute or belonged to a voluntary organisation. “ Their only interest in life seems 10 be the cinema, and the majority have had their individuality rubbed off. “Scientific plaoing of boys is what is wanted, and that is going on more and more through the employment exchanges, which are becoming specialised at their job. “After all, Hie average youngster lias got to go into factories, works, or offices and get on his own feet. What we can do is to encourage and help them, particularly those in blindalley jobs, make them more adaptable, and, at Ihe same lime, sec that Hie youngster with brains is picked up.” ■

“ The real problem is with young people who leave seliool at 14, enter Ihcse blind-alley jobs, and lost all touch with Ihosc who are ready and anxious to help them. More often than not they come on to the employment exchanges round about IS years of age, with no acquired skill or training, when it is especially difficult, because of their age, to get them -started in progressive employment. “It was eslimaled before the new Shops Act came into force at the end of last month there were 700,000 young people in unregulated forms of employment. That Act brought 1100,000 of them into regulated employment, leaving 400,000 still to be dealt with. “Owing to local circumstances and the fact Mint in many trades 10 garded as the appropriate slarliug ago it is necessary for many young people leaving seliool a I 14 lo go into temporary employment. “What wo arc going to try to do is to keep a careful walch on them,