THE PARENTS’ PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 4 January 1929, Page 7

THE PARENTS’ PROBLEM

CHOICE OK A CAREER. “Tile Choice of a Career” is (he title of a if-J-pago booklet, compiled h the Kduealiuu Department, and issued just at the lime when par-mis are eon sidering the important question ol the next stage i.n the children s careers. As 3j,()()0 copies of this booklet liarbeen printed, it may be assumed tli-i 1 tuples can be .secured easily, and (In elfort is worth while, as this publication is the most complete of il-s kind ever made available. The main aim is to make clear to parents the vareities of educational facilities available beyond (be primal' school stage, but a large proportion o the booklet contains details of the var ions vocations which can lie followed with, of course, suitable inlonnation regarding the educational preparations for them.

There is some if rank and valuable advice about pushing children of m> special aptitude into post-primary educational courses. “If the child has not revealed any pronounced aptitude or inclination, ’ says the author, “the parent should decide from the information given m the primary-school reports and from the verbal opinion of the teacher whether the child had bet tor enter upon an academic course 10-d ing to the passing of the .Public Service Entrance and the Matriculation examinations, or whether he should take up a more practical course leading, on the one hand to some commercial occupation or oi. the other hand, to one of the trades. “It is a mere waste of time and a weariness of the flesh to both teacher and pupil for a child to enter upon a course in which he is unable to take n deep interest or for which lie lias little or no aptitude. This applies especially to the academic course. If the parents’ circumstances permit, the pupil should enter upon a full-time post-primary course. Part-time day course's for children who are not engaged in any occupation are not advised. Parents are also recommended to enter their children ifor short academic courses. If they know they cannot keep their children at a post-primary school lor more than a year or two they would be well advised to select a course of it practical typo. These are to he found mainly in the technical schools, hilt also in some of the secondary schools. Consultation with the principal is recommended. CAREERS FOR, GIRLS. It is pointed out that since most girls marry sooner or later—hut lew can say on leaving school, when they will marry, or even whether they will marry at all—the choice of an occupation (for girls is made difficult hv this uncertainty as to whether it will lie a permanent or a temporary career. However, the suggestion is made th ’t there are several types of oeeupat ions for which the preparation and training lire closely related in whole or in purl to those required for the management of the home and the care and training of children. Among these are nursing dressmaking, cooking, and needlework -f all kinds, and, to a less degree, '•ommerciiil training. “Business training is not without its value to the housewife and office. Girls who have had a reasonably good home training and have taken a suitable course in a post-primary school, including domestic subjects as well as a special preparation in commercial work, should be Well equipped ifor the management ol their own lioincs.’ 1

The booklet gives particulars oi tinwages usually paid to woman in clerical, retail trading, factory, and professional pursuits, and in view of the general idea that most girls (ind their occupation in an office, the actual an - lysis, based on census figures is surprising. The percentage oi women over 15 years of age to lie found in the group “ home arts and occupations requiring similar training” is 81.3. Only I,' pc emit (if our women are employed 'c clerical and commercial positions. 3.8 per cent in shops. There are s ! smaller percentages in the la< lories, on the land, and engaged in the professions. SECOND AH V INDUSTItIKS. The information regarding the nature of tin* work and the pay in the various secondary industries, and also in the professions, has been compiled lrom first-hand details supplied direct from the occupations concerned. 1 he usual official sources, which generalise and rims give somewhat indefinite iivlormation, have been ignored in lavour of compilation through direct channels. In any branch of industry where tradesmen are employed the voiiii learner goes through an apprenticeship, ■ nd the booklet provides useful inlormation on this point. Jt adds a warning: “ Where . there is no definite apprenticeship, or where the permanence of a particular occupation as part of (lie industry is dniihtilui—as is often t i, O „ .se w'tb machine pr » os*os—tln-re is great danger of the occupation being M blind alloy which leads nowhere. "I'liis is especially true of open atoms in which only hoy or girl labour is employed. In such occupations boys and girls receive practically no uso.lul Iraui,ng. have no hope of continuing in tin occupation, and have often little (•Inur e of transfer to other branches ol (be industry. *• In all eases, parents are advised t make careful inquiries as to tlm nvenm,s of promotion in any industry. There are in every flourishing industry important and lucrative positions to he reached by capable and energetic hovs and girls, always providing that

* bev .are not too greatly handicapped through entering the industry by i. wrong door.” , .iIC INT )K PEN DENT LIKE.” The generally restrained language o the official booklet brightens up will'll i readies the sc- tuni covering prim u industries. Here, it is devlnred, tlioris less risk of entering a “ blind alley ' occupation. “ .Sound common sense industry and thrift are the main re quisiles for success. Preliminary ed (atiomd qualifications are not usiiall required except in the specialise branches. . . training is usually givein the industry itself.” More than hall of the men employein agricultural and pastoral pursuits h New Zealand are in business on tliei’ own account. This point is tboroughL stressed, that tlm hoy who chooses farming has a hotter chance ol heroin ing his own master'and so attaining independence than if he led chosen an* other of the occupations of town or country outside the learned profession. In addition to this great advantage farming of all kinds means an outdoor life, and in must eases plenty of physical activity as well as demanding a skill, knowledge and t raftsmanslui greater tlcn are needed in almost an;, other occupation. In a peculiarly higk degree, therefore, a boy may find satisfaction and happiness in tin* work r J (he farm, and if he has also a deep love of nature and a keen interest m living things, in addition to pluck and determination, there is no reason why ho should not win through to a competence even if he starts out after training with little or no capital. In any case the farmer is, in difficult, times, usually in a better position than the town dweller since he is able to produce the necessities oif life, and m the last analysis it is the peasant population of a country that best survives the stress of wars and revolutions. In every sense, therefore, the farmer is the backbone of a country.” The booklet wisely gives much information about the educational 'lacilitics now available for our future fanners, and it stresses the value of a mind trained to appreciate the value ol science with an eve keen to sec wluu. science can do Tor the man on the laud, and technique sufficiently elastic to embody new methods which have been proved in-the. research laboratory or on the experimental 'farm. “ The hoy who is. seeking a career on the land must, therefore, have a good general training, and the more deeply he is versed in.chemistry, botany, physiology and other sciences as applied t„ agriculture the better, so long as ho does -not, in studying the science of agriculture, neglect the craftsmanship and get out of touch with the routine work and operations of the farm and the business end of k, \\hi<b *s of the first importance.” Two or throe years at an agricultural school, such as that at Fuildmg, followed where possible by a course at Lincoln or Massey College wiii, it >* pointed out, enable any hoy of good average intelligence to profit later on by what may be available from Hie results of scientific investigations applicable to farming.