Evening star., 1914-05-29
VOCATIONAL TRAINING
SHOULD BEGIN IN HOME
View Expressed by Prof. Blumenthal
in Address to Parents
and Others.

That the schools are not fitting the
child for the economic necessities of to-
day and that the same curriculum is now
in force throughout the educational sys-
TENS of the United States as were In
force during the time of our grandfathers
,, We're declarations made by Prof Gustave
A. Bumenthal, director and analyst of
the vocational guidance bureau, before
the parents and friends of pupils Of the
o Street Vocational School last evening.
The parent he said, must discover the
avocation of the child in the home and
then have him pursue his vocation In a
vocational school This condition, how
should be. .
Not Always Effective.
AS things now stand, the speaker SAID
the vocation suits the industrial condl-
tions, but it does not always SUIT the
boy, and until the boy is fitted for the
trade by proper guidance beginning IN
the home he cannot be expected to fol-
low the course of his special fitness.
Prof Blumenthal paid high tribute to
the work of the o Street Nocatonal
School, and said that the o Street Bulle-
tin, the paper published by the schooi,
is not only the first one to come from
the vocational schools of this city, put
that it is the first one to be printed py
any vocational school in the country.
President Henry P. Blair of the board
of education spoke of the responsibility OF
the parent in the home The stare ne
said has lessened the responsibility on
the parent by training the child IN pup
lie schools. The parent must study tne
child. he said, by actually living with the
child in the full meaning of the word
If the parent fails in this. Mr.. Blalr sald'
the child cannot be equally balanced IN
the things which ought to be his IN TINS
life. He is bound to be one-sided. Vo-
cational education. he said, is a means
to economic independence. but that II the
home did not shoulder its responsibility
such an education would be valueless to
a community.
Commends Systems of Europe.
Assistant Superintendent r. c. Bruce
paid tribute to the European countries
for more than one element of vocational
ideas. Many in this country, he said. are
pursuing occupations which offer no de-
velopment whatever. especially as far as
wages are concerned. I'VE must have
large number of men and women of the
middle class" he said. who are to be
trained in vocational work and who are
to take their places in the industries of
this and other communities. 1t Is not
enough that We should receive particular
training, but students in the trade schools
must also receive the thorough cultural
training which would bring a success be-
yond measure to their trade work.
DIR. Greed W. Childs. member of the
board of education, said that the colored
people desire to pursue work on the farm
or in the trades. But he said, be
fore we can become expert in vocational
or trade work, before we can go out into
the world and compete with other ex-
perts, we must have work and love
it: we must prefer to work
John Dolph, president of the vocational
guidance bureau. spoke on the practical
sides of life. Vocational education, he
said. teaches the boy and girl to be prac-
teal. Trade training. he said, solves the
problem of living, the problem which
confronts all who are struggling for ex-
istence in this life.
1nvokes Congressional Aid.
Principal ]. Moria Saunders in his open
ing remarks made appeal for more liberal
appropriations from Congress for voca
tional work.
He also told of practical work which
had been done at the school. resulting