The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-08-02
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BUSINESS AND
THE SCHOOLS
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cational side is a fact beth promis.
ing and disquieting, according to
Owen r. Lovejoy, who discusses "vo
cational Guidance and Child Labor
in publication of the United States
bureau Of education.
"The employers have a very def.
mite program says Mr.. Lovejoy.
"They know what they want and are
going after it. Let us not delude our
selves by thinking they are actuated
by philanthropy. 1t is simply good
business. They want a crop of fresh,
young labor furnished them every
year that 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 the double burden society has long
borne-the burden of using goods
worth much less than they cost be-
cause poorly and inefficiently made
and of supporting by charity those
paid less than their work is worth
because of their poverty, inefficiency,
and consequent helplessness. But
while employers are awake to the
need of efficiency, industry is not.
Industry still beckons to the ineffic-
lent, the immature, the unprepared
Society is far from having reach
ed a decision that unskilled labor
must be abolished. The occupations
which, outside of agriculture, absorb
the output of the schools are barren
of any element to make them of pres
ent interest to the child or to offer
any hope for the future. A vocational
survey in New York City exhibits in
one group 101 boys between II and
l6 years of age with an analysis of
the work they are doing For only 5
of them is there any opportunity to
advance or improve; 90 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 a blessing in
stead of an abuse for children. We
are constantly told that, if the schools
had the right kind of curriculum and |
gave the right kind of training, every
child would have his natural capacity
developed, and we should speedily put
an end to the army of industrial
nisfts.
"ln accepting this challenge of the
business world our educators have as
'umed an nnwarranted responsibility
or the condition that. exists. A study
'f the annual contribution of our
'ity schools to the business interests
VI the community will show that a
percentage is thrown in
o the discard within the first month;
hat another large percentage goes
lrifting from job to job, sometimes
dvancing, quite as frequently reced-
ng, the industries complaining that
he children the schools turn out are
10 good; and that the children lose
ourage, enthusiasm, and youthful
dealism in the various meaningless
obs to which they are assigned. That
many drift into casual and thence
nto permanent idleness is to be ex-
ected. The only wonder is that any
rise to position of effic-
,ncy and responsibility.
"Our schools are not fair to them
elves in assuming that they or the
hid are wholly at fault. If the ,
chools need better curriculum, so
oes the industrial establishment If o
he child needs a more definite and =
mind, much more does in Z
ustry. One of the most vital servic- ,
5 vocational guidance can render is q
, analyze our industries and train T
nr youth to distinguish between a
ocation and job. 1t is futile to
i've special training to a child for
lie purpose of fastening him to a ma c
1ine on which he shall do purely me-
lanical labor for life. Business says:
iere are the jobs; what kind of C
lildren have youto offer? We must /
verse the inquiry and say to bust
ess: Here are our children; what +
nd of industry have you to offer?'" c
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