The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-11
inaugurate other needed lines of helpful
Vocational Guidance

work.
 Vocational Guidance
 '"fhere are many young men and woni- en in our schools who are preparing to enter upon some vocation in life. Under the present organization of society, the selection of a calling in life Is too often matter of chance or mere accident Parents are unable to advise and the young man or woman, withdraws from school and takes up the first work that offers regardless of personal fitness or adaptation. There is no reason why a special committee of teachers, in each and women who have some knowledge of an dwomen who have some knowledge of industrial and vocational conditions should not be appointed to aid and ad- wise young people who need counsel and assistance. Such A committee may be of great help to our young people in the selection of their courses and in direct ing them in the selection of vocational studies that will be useful to them. Much may thus be accomplished in avoiding errors made through ignorance and want of experience.
 Not only young people in school need this expert counsel, but many outside of school should have an oppor- tunity to consult with someone who can give sympathetic advice For this purpose. it is proposed to have a com mittee of citizens to act in conjunction with our high school committees as a citizens committee on vocational guid- ance. We need such committee of men and women, so that our young peo- pie, whether in school or out of school, may be able to approach them upon questions of important life interest with assurance that they will meet with intelligent interest and helpful coun- sel. This needed forward step in our community will involve no expense and We have many able men and women who will gladly corporate
 Commercial Features
 There are other lines of progress and development in which we hope the teachers in our high schools will take special interest. In the first place it seems to me possible to establish a more intimate relation between our high schools and the commercial and industrial institutions of our city. Our business men will gladly welcome our young people from the several depart ments of our high schools to inspect the methods and processes of business. The great industrial plants of the city are so many laboratories which our schools may utilize and the students work under the direction of live teacher may be vitalized and made practical.
 Part Time or Continuation Work
 'In addition to this there are hun dreds of young people who are com pelled to work in stores or shops when they should be attending school. Through the assistance and co-opera- ton of their employers these young people may be organized into classes for study along lines pertaining to their work. In other cities employers have granted the young men and wom- en employed by them from three to six hours per week in the afternoons to attend special classes conducted by expert teachers. Employers in giving this time without loss of salary find that it actually pays them to thus edu- cate their employees The returns in better and more skilful service are immediate and the system has been continued wherever introduced. I hope this year to see the part-time school plan for the young workers of our city introduced. Many of our leading business men are ready to cooperate In such a movement.
 Concrete Problems of the School Plant
 Again, the high school building it. self presents a variety of problems with which our young people should be IHInllldT. NO DuDil Suouiu from the science department or from the high school and not be able to tell whether the building is heated by hot air furnace or by steam. The operation of the heating and ventilat- ing system, of the telephone, electric light and the electric bell systems are life problems about which every pupil should be informed. In the science lab oratory the pupil should be able to ,Aal oG a VV it's bi-produets should know how to test the milk and the foodstuffs used in the school lunch room and In the home. For the mathematics and the commercial departments of the school there are concrete problems regarding materials and supplies with which he may become familiar. Too many pu- pills use and treat the school equip ment as if 1t had no money value. and accept the service of the school as if it cost nothing. No young man or wom- an should graduate from our high schools until he has computed the cost to the city and state of the education he has received. This should include the original investment in site. building and equipment with interest, making due allowance for depreciation in values through use. together with the actual cost of instruction and main tenance.
 Again, the work of our pupils in the biology and physiology classes will profit them little until they have learned to apply the principles they have learned to their own persons, their own classrooms and finally their homes. The care of the classrooms of the school, the lighting, ventilation, heating and plumbing of the school building are concrete life problems too vital to be ignored.
 Sex Hygiene
 "In addition to all this. the import ant subject of sex hygiene as affect ing the welfare of the individual and the community must receive more in teIlioent attention in the high school, especially in the departments of biol ogy and physiology. In these topics the sexes may recite in separate classes, and the instruction made more specific than otherwise possible. Here lies a most delicate question involving many difficulties l do not believe in spas modic lectures on hysterical emphasis upon such topics. Those most intensely interested in the subject are for many reasons the least fitted to instruct the young along these lines and our teach CTS must study these subjects soberly from the viewpoints of physiology and psychology. and instruct the youth without losing that sense of sane per spective so essential at this stage of