The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-06-16
A VOCATION BUREAU.

and college to the task of earning
living, the choice of vocation be-
comes a matter of great importance.
In many instances the pupil has a
definite idea regarding his life work,
but there are not a few who are grad
uated without having determined
clearly the field in which they can
do tne best work For that reason a
movement started in Boston called
Vocation Bureau.
In writing on this subject in New
Boston" the publication of the Bos.
ton 1915 movements Meyer Bloomfield,
the acting director OF this bureau, says
in part:
1T is highly encouraging to lld
the busy school teachers of Boston
ready and eager to take up the work
of preparing for such wise and prac-
teal counselling The School Com
mittee, Superintendent Brooks, the
/ School Vocation Committee, and
many masters, sub-masters and teach
ers have taken steps to bring about
an organization next fall for the study
! anu DIdClICt VI NONdtiOhdl itiB. gu
perintendent Maxwell has recommend
ed to the New York Board of Educa-
ton the establishment of school vo-
cation bureau. Other cities have
started vocational courses, but no
city has yet gone so far as Boston in
working out a comprehensive plan.
"The object of the Vocation Bureau,
which has it's office at 101 fremont
street. is to coordinate the various
agencies that are actively and eff
GENTLY interested in this movement.
The bureau itself expects to supply
the teacher, councillors and others
who are interested with information
about the vocations and with sugges-
tons as to methods, literature, and
needed things for the carrying on of
the work.
The organizations working with
the Vocation Bureau are the School
Vocation Committee, representing the
school system (this affiliation was
effected through Boston-1915), the
Girls Trade Education League, the
Womens Municipal League, and the
Home and School Association. When
the plans of those interested in this
movement are under way, and some
time must elapse before results show,
we may expect to see lessened the vast
evil of mis-employment, an evil quite
comparable with that of unemploy-
ment.
Commerce and industry will ma
, terially benefit by this work which
emphasizes fitness on the part OF
those who have really chosen, and
purpose means steadiness and pro-
gressive efficiency. Young people will
: waste less of their precious youth in
knocking about from job to job, be-
cause of failure to learn where thelI
capacities promise the largest scope
The present day chaos of job-seeking
: and ob-jumping makes vocational no.
boes of many thousands. The PROBES
sions will be less overcrowded by
those whose talents lie in other anc
equally honorable directions, but
whose ambitions and energies We're
uneuided at the critical moment, ant
school life itself will be enriched by
, its contact with the world OF work
contact that should prove educa
tional TO both sides.
Help in choosing life-work is no
! new, but what is new is the CROWNS
number of those who are determined
that our future workers shall have
chance TO grow INTO thelr Ille cdlllii :
intelligently, that the laborer sinai
e be worthy of his hire and that MI
t task shall not be unworthy OF his
possibilities.
There is a real need for aid of this
sort. and for lack of it many DO!
has made failure of life. Often al
= uncongenial position is secured TO-
which a young man has little apti
tude, but he takes it because their
is nothing else in sight Soon III
y worries. and with the necessity o
o supporting family he is unable Il
learn the old job and make fresl
start. This bureau might properl.
offer its assistance to boys and girl
@ long before they leave school as tn
@ choice of a course of study in schoo
f or college should be shaped in &C
d cordance with the vocation chosen
d Part of the school work may well b.
n to aid pupils in finding the tasks 70
: which they are best fitted. Much de
O ponds upon a right start in life.
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