The Washington times., 1914-01-11
COMPLETE PLANS OF
VOCATIONAL BUREAU
Work to Be Put in Operation
Soon Under Direction of
Prof. BIumenthaI.
By WILLIAM T. DAUGHERTY.


The plan to create vocational guild
ance bureau in Washington has been
completed by members of Washington's 8
commercial organizations. in co-opcra-
ton with many of the city's most ear
nest social betterment workers and
philanthrupic benefactors.
The bureau. it is expected, will be put
into operation during the present month.
Prof. Gustave Blumenthal has been en-
gagged To direct the organization during
its first year, and n good part OF the
necessary funds has been raised to
finance the undertaking for it's initial
year.
AS planned. Washingtons vocational
guidance bureau will profit by the Euc-
cess of other similar undertakings which
have been put into play in Boston, New
York. Buffalo, Cincinnati, Minneapolis
Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. Many of the
philanthropists enrolled in the Washing
ton organization have had experience in
other cities, and are recognized as ef-
ficient helpmates toward making Wash
ingtons bureau a model vocational guild
dnCe bureau.
Though conditions here are unique,
and many problems will arise in connec-
ton with the directing of men, women
and children, who will be treated" for
placement in the proper sort of work
for which they are found to be best fit,
great success is predicted. and I'M
bounded optimism is felt by the citizens
who organized the plan.
Scheme To Be Cooperative.
central bureau will be selected
where the officers and attendants will
conduct their work. The scheme is
to be cooperative, based on scientific
principle, and carried on in connection
with vast cooperative organization,
which spreads throughout the city, ClI
bodying the public schools, business
men in all the professions, and indus
trial experts, who will find the pupil.
The guiding spirit of the bureau will
be the personality Of Prof. Blumenthal,
who has made life work of vocation
al guidance and who is known inter-
nationally by the work ne has done in
Australia and elsewhere. where yoca-
tional guidance is as much a municipal
creation as other civic institutions.
A vocational analyst and psychologist,
F'rof Blumenthal will examine the cam
didate who comes to the bureau up
against it." The patient" may be q
child, a man, or a woman. IL matter
little.
Prof. Blumenthal, expert I'm sizing
up people, will determine, through his
methods, whether the patient is fit for
mental or manual vocation. For
this judgment he is aided by the rev
elations Of the candidates physical
characteristics and the self-analysis
which the candidate submits in An
swering forty questions through 80
vocational secretary, who is to assist
the professor in his offices.
Once stamped by the analyst, the can
CidatG is sent to one of a board of
CuunsellOrs. The board Is composed Of
tries in Washington. Preferably such a
counsellor shall be one of the foremost
Of his trade or profession in the city.
The candidates is sent to the person en-
gagged in the work for which he Or she
is deemed most fit.
tn counsellor indorses the candidate,
should he find him or her to have a
snCC ial leaning, and is sent back to the
oureau with an Endorsement.
Describes The Types.
H. connection with the bureau an en-
ployment agency will be conducted. sup
porteG by employers throughout the city
who want efficient employees for their
work. The bureau will make an effo1t
TO place candidates with employers in
work for which they have been found
most adapted.
Nor does the cooperative system stop
there. A brigade of social workers,
who are known in the language of the
vocational experts as "follow-up," will
inquire as to the progress of the can
di.'atC after he or she has been with
the employer for some time. Should
the emplOye nave made good, the
bureau is then through with him. Should
the progress be reported negative. a re-
examination will be given and other eff
forts made to secure work.
The system about to be inaugurated
is both scientific an da cooperative. 1t
enl;sts many hundreds OF people in its
work, and with their cooperation, II is
said, success is assured
Psychology is employed to form a
theoretical background. People, Il Is the
aNrument of Prof Blumenthal who has
Rnalyzed 100000 people in his life's work,
are divided into classes. They may be