XN000022-1980-10-22 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1980

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UNDOUBTEDLY, SHE CONTINUED, STAFF IN RESIDENTIAL HOMES REQUIRE ADDED INDUCEMENTS TO COMPENSATE FOR THEIR IRREGULAR WORKING HOURS - AT NIGHT, AT WEEKENDS AND ON HOLIDAYS.

+THE STAFFING OF RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND INSTITUTIONS REQUIRES REAL DEDICATION AND DEVOTION.

+1 HAVE SPOKEN ON THIS SUBJECT IN 1976 AND 1978 AND STILL WAIT FOR IMPROVEMENTS.+

COMMENTING ON SERVICES PROVIDED BY PROBATION OFFICERS, MISS BENNETT QUESTIONED WHETHER FURTHER THOUGHT HAD BEEN GIVEN TO ATTACH SOCIAL WORKERS FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO POLICE STATIONS TO ASSIST THE POLICE IN WORKING WITH THE PARENTS AND FAMILIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN FOR QUESTIONING.

+WHEN A PARENT HAS TO ATTEND THE POLICE STATION FOR THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE OF MISDEEDS OF HIS CHILD, HE IS OPEN TO RECEIVE HELP. BUT IT HAS TO BE PROVIDED WITH A PROMISE OF LONG-TERM REFERRAL TO A SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY.

+IT IS ESSENTIAL TOO THAT THESE TROUBLED CHILDREN SHOULD BE PROVIDED WITH ONE AND THE SAME WELFARE OFFICER OVER A SUFFICIENTLY LONG PERIOD OF TIME FOR THE CHILD TO RECOGNISE THE WELFARE OFFICER AS A LONG-TERM FRIEND.+

MISS BENNETT NOTED SHE WAS RECENTLY MADE AWARE THAT MANY OF THE CHILDREN, LABELLED AS 'SLOW LEARNERS' BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, HAD SERIOUS BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS THAT HAD LED TO DELINQUENCỸ.

THERE HAS BEEN NO SPECIAL PROVISION FOR EXTRA SOCIAL WORKERS TO WORK WITH SLOW LEARNING CHILDREN BEING EDUCATED IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS- SHE SUGGESTED THAT STUDIES BE MADE IMMEDIATELY OF THE REASONS WHY THESE CHILDREN ARE BACKWARD.

+THIS IS A PRE-REQUISITE IF WE ARE GOING TO STEM THIS INCREASE IN JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.+

SHE EMPHASISED THE CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY SHE THOUGHT THAT GOVERNMENT MUST MORE STRENUOUSLY TACKLE THE POSSIBILITY OF IMMEDIATELY RAISING THE QUALITY OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.

SHE CALLED ON THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE

A MORE MODERN APPROACH TO LEARNING IN OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

+ IT MAY WELL BE THAT WE SHOULD BE ENQUIRING INTO THE

POSSIBILITY OF A MORE OPEN-ENDED EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

+SOME COUNTRIES HAVE INTRODUCED A VOUCHER SYSTEM BY WHICH

NOT ALL THE NINE YEARS OF EDUCATION HAVE TO BE TAKEN CONSECUTIVELY.

+THE YOUNG PERSON IS ALLOWED TO STOP STUDYING FOR A YEAR OR MORE AND RETURN WHEN OLDER AND MORE READY TO ACCEPT THE SCHOOLING PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT.+

MISS