BOYS GO FARMING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 16, 11 September 1931, Page 3

BOYS GO FARMING

("Post" Special Commissioner ).

DEPRESSION effect INCREASING TREND TOWARDS LAND ON LEAVING SCHOOL FEWER ENTERING PROFESSIONS

WELLINGTON, Thursday. One of the most significant ' diselosures of the annual report of the Education Department, presented in the House of Representatives, is the increasing trend of pupils on leaving school to enter farming occupatiqns. A distinct drop is shown in the percentage of boys entering the clerical, professional, shop and warehouse, and the trades and industries occupations during 1930 from all schools. Whereas in 1927 the percentage under this head was 40 per cent, in 1928, 39 per cent, and in 1929, 43 per cent, during the past year it fell to 33 per cent. To compensate for this drop, the percentage of boys entering thc- farming occupations from each.tyfi-c of sphool shows an iu-crease. During 1928 and 1929 it was 21 per cent, but in 1930 the percentage rose to 27. The report states that a perusal of fche individual returns from schools shows that the numbers retumed as not entering any known occupation have definitely increased. But for that fact it could be stated that the trend of the movement from other occupat'onal groups solely towards farming pursuits had definitely esiabllshed itself. Analysis of the figures relating to bhe destination of pupils on leaving the primary sehool shows an inci'ease of 2 per cent in respect to boys tak"ng up post-primary and agricultural and pastoral pursuits, and an increase of 1 per cent in girls remain-ing in the home. The report states that it is felt that the increase in the number of boys entering agricultural and pastoral pursuits is due to parents enlisting the ' aid of their sons at an earlier age than they would otherwise do if their financial position would permit them to eng-age outside help. The' most notable movement in respect to pupils who left the junior high schools in 1930 was in the case of boys who continued full time secondary education, the percentage increasing from 61 to 67 per cent during the year. In the case of trades the number fell by 5 per cent.