Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-21

was held in the church parlors, Fri | day evening with the president, Hib- ! bard Norman in the chair. Secretary Robert Johnson read the minutes of l the last meeting, his report being ac- 1 cepted Supt. E. G. Graham of the l Norwich Public Schools was the ] speaker of the evening and he gave | a very instructive talk upon Noca- i
 Vocational Education.
 Superintendent Graham spoke as follows:
 The same progress and advance | ment is being made in education that is being made in any other line of aviation, for instance.
 Today we are confronted with the new problem of vocational training
 The need for vocational training comes from a change in our economic and industrial conditions Up to the present time our public schools have met fairly the problems of preparation for the higher schools and colleges. We have equipped our pupils with the tools for the ordinary work of life. sufficient amount of knowledge in English, history, arithmetic, etc, to carry on any ordinary occupation.
 It has only been within the past few years that a more specific train ing has been exacted; a training which must equip the pupils for di- rect contract with the business life of the world: training which will make the pupil fit a specific occupa- tion.
 This new movement of vocational education is a movement to bring in to closer relation the theory and practice in educational work.
 Whether this new movement eman- ates from educators, industrial work CTS, manufacturers or the business world, does not matter.
 Difference in Primitive Times.
 In primitive times vocation and ed- ucation were much more closely allied than they are today. In those days there was no need of vocational guid- ance Education and vocation went hand in hand. Every boy or girl helped with the work. The boy since the beginning of history has followed his father to the fishing stream and learned to fish by fishing; to do by do- ing. The girl stayed at home, watched and helped her mother, prepare the meals, make the clothes darn the stockings and care for the household. This kind of training resulted in mus Cular habits, trained senses and first hand information.
 Today economic and industrial con- ditions have changed. The boy or girl no longer enjoys the opportunity of vocational education in the home. l Ae SplLHlllS WU6Sl eIIlu IUOtu nave gone into the factories many of whose doors bear the inscription, "No admittance." In those days the boy knew masters, mechanics, journeymen. He had free access to the shops and trades so that when it was time to select his own occupation he knew great deal about the different kinds of work.
 Someone has aply stated one of the most fundamental truths underlying success in these words: Happy in deed is the man who has found his work, but no less happy are others who must do business with him" Two Considerations. At least two considerations should operate consciously in ones effort to discover his life calling.
 First, one should know what call ings were open and the possibilities for self advancement. He should carefully study each field he seriously ! considers Through reading, travel, investigation and conference one may l become acquainted with the different 1 occupations.
 1 Second, one should endeavor to dis 1 cover his own limitations and capa- | bilities; his strength and weakness. 1 He should note the qualities, abili- 1 ties and talents of men who have achieved marked success in their re- 1 spective eallings. All biographies and autobiogra phies will be helpful. This problem of vocational educa- l tion is a large and difficult one. All | experience to date seems to point rath- 1 CT clearly that while other agencies may and should aid in the solution of 1 this problem to properly discharge its i duty and responsibility to society To adequately handle the problem 1 of vocational guidance would involve i an amount. of equipment, organiza- 1 ton and machinery which will render i it's establishment impossible in many i places.
 l There is a growing conviction among 1 educators and thinkers in America that l vocational training must be given to ] our young people. Manual training and the domestic arts instruction of
 our secondary schools and colleges are good in their way as a part of gen
 eral education but they do not meet
 the demands of the business world for vOca tional education.
 : Let US draw a distinction between liberal and vocational education. Liberal education aims to develop all the qualities of a person apart
 from this special aptitude or calling. , Vocational education deVelopes his
 special aptitude or calling.
 A person may go through college and 1 receive a liberal education. If he goes
 through a Normal school or a col 1 lege of medicine, he would receive a 1 NDcdJlO SOuCdl1Ou.
 We need more pre-Vocational work l in the upper grades of our grammar l schools.
 1 Pre-vocational work should be in l troduced because so many of our pu- | pills never go to the high school. Boys | of the grammar school age like to dc 1 things.
 There re several ways by which he 1 school may carry out this responsibili- ! ty and be of service to the pupil First, make a study of the local in dusties by visitation and through counselors.
 Second, the supplementary reading : courses done in history and geogra phy
 and science may be planned so as t.
 direct the attention of the pupils to the
 various occupations. This reading
 and study should render them con-
 sciOus of the different occupations
 which they might enter, of the equip nent necessary to succeed in each oC-
 cupation, of it's advantages or disad-
 Nantages from the health point of view
 Of It's advantages for mental grow h
 good associations and financial ad-
 vancemeat.
 A third way in which the school ma.
 aid vocational discovery is tbe oppor- turity offered in the many sided course of study now in use in nul schools. If a child shows particulai interest at some stage of his develop
 nent in arithmetic, he should hAve ma terial provided along this line to en. courage him If his interest is in his tory, literature or art. this inUeres should be properly nouTished.