SCHOLARS IN INDUSTRY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 7, 17 September 1943, Page 5

SCHOLARS IN INDUSTRY

CIRCULARS TO BUSINESSMEN

NEW HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIMENT

A scheme for broadening the minds and furthering the education of High School boys in a practical manner has been formulated by the Headmaster of the Whakatane District High School,, Mr I. Hubbard, and details/ were before the Borough Council at its meeting last Monday evening. Air Hubbard (in a letter) said that tlie idea was to allow* boys who would be leaving school, to gain a practical insight into trades and callings by visiting various, factories, engineering shops or manufacturing establishments for a short period once weekly or fortnightly. The boys, eouid actually assist in the work and would thus gain a background which would assist them towards making a choice, of their own trade or calling later on. The prospective employer would also gain .some impression of what his prospective employee' W'its like. If the scheme eouid be authorised by the Education Board, lie (the headmaster) was keen to launch it at once and was compiling a list of suitable employing establishments for that purpose. Cr Canning: Can they get oil' school? The Mayor: They had a holiday last Friday and. were at the pictures, to-day. A few more days won't hurt. Cr Good: The whole idea behind the scheme is to let the boy.s see what's going on. The average boy at school hasn't any idea what he wants to do. I think this, is a very constructive scheme. Cr Canning: The idea's quite good but if you take a boy away from school regularly his training must suiter. I would suggest Saturday morning or after school hours.)

Cr Creeke: There are six unbroken weeks at Christmas and three weeks mid-winter holidays. 1 think the idea excellent, but couldn't holiday time be utilised.

The Mayor: The question of boys being away from school is. between the headmaster and the parents. All f we are asked to do is to agree to the prospect of having a boy or two visit our Electricity Department.

Cr Good said that the question of insurance had already been considered, and 'would be covered by. the scheme as. a safeguard against accidents. He mentioned also that the garage proprietors were most enthusiastic about the scheme., Cr Canning: Will the Labour Unions object ? Cr Shapley thought the scheme an excellent one and thought the Borough Council should support it. He moved that the matter be referred to the Electrical Engineer and the Town Clerk to co-operate where possible with the' project. The motion was carried.