DISCIPLINE AMONG BOYS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 239, 6 July 1944, Page 4

DISCIPLINE AMONG BOYS

Whose Responsibility? LACK OF RESPECT ALLEGED

The contention was advanced by an employer, in submitting evidence to the Apprenticeship Commission in MTllington, that there was a very considerable lack of respect on the part of appren- , tices toward employers, toward equipment and toward industry generally, and ; that, the education system was responsible for this lack of discipline. Piquancy was given to the ensuing discussion by the presence on the commission of leading educationists, including the Director of Education. . Mr. R. G. Ridltng, director, of Weilington Technical Colle’ge, asked if the statement bv witness did not- conflict with a further statement opposing apprenticeship to an industry instead of to an employer because it would mean the “removal of the ordinary discipline and control over the boy.” MUtness said that the hick of respect shown to seniors by, boys had been a tendency in the past few years. He maintained that it was not the job of the employer to inculcate discipline,, but of the educationist. “AVe say that it is a subject that has been overlooked by the educationist.” Mr. Ridling: I think if you were m touch with the schools you would find that it has not been overlooked. M’itness: It is not evident in the product. To Mr. W. J. Mountjoy, witness gave an instance where a boy. when sent tor by his employer, bad replied, “If the boss wants me he can come and see me. in recent years industry had received an increasing number of boys of that type from the schools. He did not think the home was the placA for teaching discipline. but that it devolved on the education system. . . To Dr C E. Beeby witness agreed that men in their thirties and forties also showed the same tendencies regarding discipline, but in the men it was something different. “Something in the Air.” Dr. Beeby: How do you know that? Isn’t the position this, that there is something in the air, something in the relationship between capital. and labour that may have caused tlihs in the case of men? Can you be sure that the boys have not caught it from the men. . M’itness said he considered it that were the position then there must be a. weakness in the training and discipline received by boys in the schools. Dr Beebv asked if witness did not imply by that that the education system must try and innoculate boys against any feelings that might arise in the outside world when they arrived there. M’itness : Their training at school ougnt to enable them to see through some of the ideas which are abroad today. , While he accepted as a fact witness s knowledge of the attitude of the boys; in his shops, he was not. satisfied he had proved that the schools were to blame, said Dr. Beeby. M’itness had admitted that, the same attitude was to be found among the older men. M’itness: So far as the, older men are concerned it is more political. Dr. Beeby: Could the hoys not catch that attitude from the men? An attitude is easily picked up. M’Hiiosh: There is something in that. Sir. Justice Tyndall: AVould yon say you get the same attention and, courtesy in retail shops now as, say, live years ag"M’itness: No. ~ , His Honour: Do you blame the education system for that? Witness: No. His Honour: Is not this lack of discipline Hie old economic law ot supply and demand. , . M'ilness said he considered it was rudeness in shops rather than lack of discipline. , , His- Honour: Is not that a reflection of supply and demand? They do not want your custom today because they have a limited supply ot goods. Is not it a sellers’ market? Witness expressed agreement, hut considered it was not the whole answer. To Dr. Beeby. witness- said'he was not aware of what was being done, in the schools regarding cultural training. He regarded school discipline today as not as effective as when lie himself was at school. . To Mr. F. D. Cornwell, witness said he | considered the fact that in recent years' the mothers of many of these boys thousands of them —had been working was a contributing factor in tlie lack of discipline.