CAREERS OF YOUTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 22 October 1942, Page 4

CAREERS OF YOUTH

EFFECT OF MILITARY SERVICE RETORT ON LIGHT MONTHS’ SURVEY Wellington, Oct 21. A Yurvr\ of the »fleet of military service on the careers of young people has been carried out b> the New Zealand Vocational Guidance Association at the request of the New Zealand Technical Teachers’ Association. It *how- that, from Ist December, lit 4l. to 31st .lul>. 1942, 256 boys from secondai > schools went straight into military camp; 303 boys throughout the counts were unable to follow their careers because of circumstances asj xoeiated with the war; 143 girls i were unable to follow the occupa- | tion for which they were best ! lilted. schools did not come within the scope lof this investigation, and certain large secondary schools were unable to supI plv returns, we are forced to the con- | elusion that the actual figures must he j considerably larger.” states the association in its report. I "It must be noted al.-o that ti - ! survey covers a period of eight months only. If the war continues for a long period these figures will steadily mI crease and the problem of rehabilitating these young people will be huge j and difficult.” Detailed figures are: - Boys

LEAVING SCHOOL EARLIER "The majority of headmasters agreed that, though in many cases it was difficult to obtain definite figures, there were

I many aspects of war conditions which fended to affect the scholastic and civil | careers of young people." states the re- . port. “The most obvious trend was for ; boys and girls to leave school much I earlier than they would normally have done. This could be traced to three ! causes connected with the war; iai The | desire tor. because of the attitude of | some employers, the* necessity > to be well started on a career before being called up for military service at 18 years of age. (This, of course, applies to boys only), (b) The lure of high wages, brought about by the labour shortage. <c) The need of help at home (on the farm, in the parents' business, or. tor girls, at home in domestic work), again because of the labour shortage. “It is probable that these three influences have, either directly or indirectly. prevented young people from following their most suitable vocation. But even where this is not so. it has been suggested that the lack of adequate education may have some effect on the rapidity of promotion in later years in professions where better educational grounding is needed. "It seems that the problem is much more acute in the towns than in the country, where it is generally centred around one activity—work on the farm. ■ Note: Over 50 per cent, of boys featured in'section (5) have been prevented ! from starting a career because they were j needed to work on the home farm ). It is also quite evident that the incidence of hardship has been much greater in the North Island than in the South. “Many teachers expressed concern at. the post-war problem created by the large numbers of girls who are being absorbed into industry and commerce in place of men. This fact, obviously, indicates that the rehabilitation of women will present a problem of greater magnitude than was experienced after the last war.” OFFICER’S COMMENT Commenting on the report, the voea- , tional guidance officer. Mr A. A. Kirk, said it showed quite clearly that the j rehabilitation problem after the present j war would be much more serious than ! it was after the last war. In the last 1 war the 18 to 21 age group was not called on. and most men had at least start- !

ed on some career before they went into the armed forces. After the present war. however, large numbers of men with no experience in any trade or profession would be returning to look for jobs Employers were generally helpful, but in many cases it would not be economic for them to pay the basic wage to inexperienced men. The difficulty might be offset in some measure by allowing men to be employed at less than the basic v age habilitation Board making up the balance The board had already shown that it was alive to the position by announcing trade training schemes for returned men. It was early yet to say how far the army education scheme would help, but it would probably be directed more to the development of general culture than to fitting men for specific trades or professions. The number of men who would be prepared *o study for a profession while in camp "It is not for me to say whether the calling up of 18-vear-olds is necessary— That is for the Government to decide—but we cannot overlook the fact that the continuance of the practice will greatly increase the difficulty of re- . habilitation,” said Mr Kirk.

.Second, and Dist let Technics High efiool NISI. N.I S.I. Went straight to military camp on leaving school 151 63 37 5 Were prevented from taking up career for which they were best fitted because they were approaching military age 48 38 17 Were prevented from taking up suitable a ppren ticeship— (a) Because of lack of material 3 3 — 1 <b) Because the trade had insufficient journeymen to allow for an apprentice 8 16 1 < c » Because ol regulations concerning rehabilitation 1 •> Have entered unsuitable careers and cannot transfer because the industry is essential 1 2 3 Prevented from starting a career for other reasons ‘-G 26 37 6 238 150 95 20 Girl* Unable to follow suitable careers — <a) Being required for farm 34 19 22 2 ib) -Being required for domestic work at home 17 17 5 2 <c) Being compelled to enter essential industry <20 and 21 years only) 2 td) For any other reasons 9 1 12 1 62 37 39 5 Total: Boys. 503: girls. 143.