Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-01-30


In my opinion, it is within the power of
his country to so leglslate that all our
people. or practically ALL may have an
honest occupations vocatlon-which
means an opportunity to earn a liveu-
hood; an opportunity to obtain, through ,
Dleasurable labor, the wherewithal to sup
ply the legitimate, reasonable demands
and desires of mind and body.
Indeed the time has come-and we are
already beginning to see it-when voca-
tional education, under school conditions,
Is widespread demand and Is rooted in
the social and economic conditions of this
age.
Every observing man knows that there
Is something wrong in our educational
system and we must not shut our eyes
TO that wrong, because II is pregnant with
an Importance second to no other prob
lem now before this nation.
The curriculum Of the elementary or
graded schools, as they are to-day con-
Quoted is largely impracticable. and does
not ut for the great struggles Of life that
are before the 93 per cent of our boys
ana girls who never pass beyond the
eighth grade, To continue conditions
longer as they are is to crimlnally neglect
the largest asset of this Countrywide
American youth.
believe that when the child reaches
the seventh grade we should begin to take
an account Of stock of what that child is
He should be studied physically, mental.
ly, and psychologlcally The natural bent
Of his mind should in some way or other
be brought out and when we have dis
covered what that bent ls We should con-
tinue his education along practical lines
and in the direction Of his natural abili-
ties for as many years as his condition
and needs warrant. that we may make II
him an efficient worker in some useful
line.
Educators are practically unanimous in
the belief that every proper incentive
should be used to continue the school life
of the boy, by a year or two, a least,
after he reaches the eighth grade. Three
to five years would be better still But
this we can never do under our present
system OF education.
Men like to do that which they can do
well. Place a boy in a position where he
must work in the lowest grades of the es-
Establishment with which he Is connected,
and work to him is drudgery Give him
such an advanced and responsible posi-
ton as a'year or two Of education along
vocational lines would have equipped him
to fill, and all is changed. He sees not
only a higher wage. but he sees promo
ton, preferment and honors. The boy
who has been drifting downwar from the
14th to 18th year soon comes to know that
| he has not had a square deal in the race
of life and he joins the order Of mall
contents and anarchists
| Industrial education. more than any
other agency, will augment and intensity
the desire for more knowledge, both gem
eral and vocational; II will unquesrion-
ably arouse into action thousands of hoNs
possessing latent ability and talent; and,
with their desires whetted for still greater
knowledge, every institution of learning
now in existence will become the direct
beneficiary of the joint action OF the ma
ton and the State in providing al Is pro-
posed in the Page vocational education
bill, stable foundation upon which can
be bulded a broader education.
| 1t is not easy to overestimate the adj
vantages which will come into our coun-
try life by the passage OF this bill. Teach
ers of agriculture and home making will
be prepared In large numbers by the agri-
cultural colleges and the State normal and
other training schools. The secondary
school department will furnish in the local
schools the beginnings of vocational edu-
cation. The district agricultural schools
I will send back to the farm hundreds OF
thousands of boys to Join with the father.
who meanwhile has been educated
through the farm or college extension
work provided for by this bill and to-
gether they would Join in vitalzing. slim
ulating and energizing that more inteli-
gent and more profitable farm MANAGE
ment of which our country to-day stands
in such great need
The extension work will furnish instruc-
ton and inspiration to millions of our
farmers. The present splendid movement
for the betterment Of country life will be
impelled forward at a faster rate. The
aspirations of our best people to live or
the land will be aroused. We shall see
the genetically best of our great white
race again seeking the land instead OF
deserving the country for the city.
We shall see better digestion and as
simllation of that great quantity OF for
eign material which is coming inSo our
country, an influx which will unquestion-
ably give us trouble If we do not assmi-
. cess of practical education.
, Give the children of these immigrants
an education along vocational lines, Sc
that they may see their condition Is bet
tered because of their change of residence
TO the United States, and they will revere
our institutions, love our country, respect
our flag. Deprive them of such an educa-
ton as will make them efficient and per
NIT them to earn a respectable livelihood
and we may well fear that the red tag Of
anarchy will take the place OF the stars
and Stripes Educate these foreign boys
and they are a blessing. Omit to do this
and they become menace. Which shall
, we do?
We must not do injustice to the labor
ing man Out OF the abundance Of OUT
great wealth and our great prosperity We
, must at least see that his children have
the opportunity to receive an education
and that kind of an education, too which
shall lit and equip him to be self-respect-
ing and self-supporting, to the end that
he may take his place alongside Of hi:
more favored brother,
We must so combine the advantages OF
the city and country that more OF our
best people will live on the farms: 50
that, with larger and stronger families
they can help our race to gain that world
leadership which can only be attained by
a combination of large numbers with a
high average Of industrial efficiency.
The occupied man is a good citizen. II
is easy for the agitator to call the idle
man to deeds OF violence, and anarchy
| I'M no oft &c To hs