The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-08-01
BUSINESS AND THE SCHOOLS.
Movement for Practical Education Slim
ulated from Industrial Side.

NAOfSthNAb lVA ldAAAAdl l1uuGdtlOn Sliil-
ulated from Industrial Side.
That the present movement for prac-
teal education is stimulated from the
industrial rather than from the educa-
tional side is fact both promising and
disquieting. according to Owen r. Love-
Joy, who discusses Vocational Guidance
and Child Labor" in publication of the
United States bureau of education.
"The employers have a very definite
program" says Mr.. Loyejoy. 'They
know what they want and are going
after it. Let us not delude ourselves by
thinking they are actuated by philan-
thropy. II is simply good business.
They want a crop Of fresh, young labor
furnished them every year than can
make fewer mistakes and more profits.
This is extremely gratifying, in one
sense. 1t indicates that economic self
interest is attempting to shake off ths
double burden society has long borne
the burden of using goods worth much
less than they cost because poorly and
Iinefficiently made. and of supporting BY
charity those paid less than their work
is worth because of their poverty, in
efficiency and consequent helplessness
But while employers are awake to the
need of efficiency, industry is not In
dustry still beckons to the inefficient,
the immature. the unprepared.
Society is far from having reached
decision that unskilled labor must be
abolished. The OCCUPATIONS which, out
side of agriculture, absorb the output OF
our schools are barren Of any element
to make them of present interest to the
child or to offer any hope for the future.
A vocational survey in New York CITY
exhibits in one group 10l boys between
IA and l6 years of age with an analysis
of the work they are doing For only
five of them is there any opportunity
to advance or improve; 96 are in dead
end occupations.
Business is now saying that if we
had the right kind of schools all this
would be changed; that child labor
would become blessing instead of an
4 buse for children. We are constantly
told that, ii the schools had the right
Kind of curriculum and gave the right
lind of training, every child would have
lis natural capacity Developed, and we
'honld speedily put an end to the army
# industrial misfts.
business world our educators have as
umed an unwarranted responsibility for
he condition that exists. A study of
he annual contribution OF our city
chools to the business interests of the
will show that a consider
BILE percentage is thrown into the dis
ard within the first month; that an
Their large percentage goes drifting fron
ob 10 job, sometimes advancing. quite
$ frequently receding, the industries are
that the children the schools
urn out are no good: and that the chill
rem lose courage, enthusiasm and youth
Al idealism in the various meaningless 4
lbs TO which they are assigned. That /
ANY drift into casual and thence into
idleness is to be expected.
he only wonder is that any ultimately
Sc to positions of efficiency and re-
"Our schools are not fair to them
Ives in assuming that they or the
lid are wholly at fault. If the schools
led better curriculum. SO does the in
istrial establishment. If the child
,eds more definite and purposeful
ind. much more does industry. One
the most vital services vocational
lidance can render is to analyze our f
dustries and train our youth to dis
ng1lish between a vocation and job.
Is futile to give special training to
lid for the purpose of fastening him
a machine on which he shall do purely
labor for life. Business says:
ere are the Jobs; what kind Of chill
en- have you 70 oferi' We must re-
re the Inquiry and say 10 business:
ere are our children; what kind Of
iustry have You to offer?'"