El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-10

Development.
year, How am I "the architect OF my
own character? oath year, Subjects
of debate-(a) Should a paper misrep-
resent facts to be sensational? (b) Re
solved: THAT man that has gone into
bankruptcy is still under moral obliga
tiOn TO pay his debts (c) In what re-
spects does the city benefit us2 I'D In
what respects do L benefit the city?
Practical TaIks to Students.
There has been planned in the .sched-
ule Of work for the spring semester
(Jan. June, 1870 a series of informal
talks" given by professional men,
merchants and manufacturers. These
will take place once a week and these
speakers, all Of them practical men Of
FL PasO and its neighbOrhOod, will tell
the pupils of the high school what part
OF their school work proved of most
value to them, and why: what sins Of
"OmissiOn and commission" they would
know now how to avoid.
Visits to Business Places.
The fifth step is what may be called
Occupational excursions, that is, visits
to banks, shops, and manufacturing
concerns, so that by actually seeing
the workings of different VOcatiOns, not
only may the pupils education be more
practical, but ne may be helped to make
n choice for himself Excursions Of
this kind have been made frequently
by FL PasO students in the past in con-
nectiOn with the science and other de-
partments. Last fall all the high school
students were taken TO the public Ii
brary, and the librarian kindly eX-
planned to them the working of such
an institution. Now they are expected,
when requiring material on a certain
subject. to refer to the card catalOg,
find how much the library contains
and in what volumes and where these
volumes are located, without asking any
of the library's attendants. A similar
visit was made to the pOstOffice, where
the postmaster explained the classifi-
cation and manipulation OF all post
office matter. Visits have been planned
for the present term to the courts. the
smelter, the foundry The Herald office,
some Of the banks, etc.
Special Library.
The sixth point in the development OF
vocational guidance is the establish
ment and circulation Of a small, care
fully chosen library in the high school
Such books as the government dOcu-
ments bureau Of education) dealing
with the subject, Parsons Choosing a
Career, The Girl Who Earns Her own
Living, by A S. Richardson; buffers
Vocational Guidance, Weaver's VOca-
tons For Girls. BlOOmfield's Vocational
Guidance. Jesse B. Davis's Moral and
Vocational Guidance, Biographies Of
Jacob Riis. Helen Keller, Phillips
Brooks. and Jane Adams, will form
the nucleus of what should finally
grow TO be a good vocational library.
Psychological Tests.
The seventh step is not, chronology
cally speaking, the seventh, as it is in
tended to be applied at any suitable
time in the high school work; it com
prises simple psychological tests given
to test the powers of memory, Observa-
ton, accuracy, speed, etc. Such tests
have been worked out in almost all
psychological classes in universities,
and Will be familiar to most college
men and women as a simple and effec-
tive way Of discovering ones strong
points and otherwise.
knowing Local Conditions.
The last point is one that lies more
particularly with the teachers who are
aiming to give vocational advice; it is
the necessary knowledge of local con-
ditiOns, industries and manufactures.
The chamber OF commerce has seconded
the high school faculty's efforts by
sending complete lists OF all industries
and manufactures in this section. In
the near future it will be the teachers
business to visit the heads of these in
dustries with the idea of getting more
detailed knowledge Of what they want,
what they observe lacking in boys and
girls from high school who come into
their employ.
Cooperation Asked.
One Of the immediate purposes OF
this article is to ask for the cooperation
Of the manufacturers, the professional
men, the business men, and the general
public Of FL Paso, when they are ap-
preached with the plea that it is for
their own good, for our good, and for
the good of the young people.
All OF these plans, with the eXcep-
ton Of the first, have been begun in the
high school work. As to the first, with
the establishment of the new high
school. the school board hopes to have
a junior high school, probably a pre-
vocational one. In the meantime, with
the cooperation Of the grade school
principals and teachers, the high school
hopes to get some satisfactory results
from the vocational cards which all FL
Paso grade school graduates viii
bring to high school hereafter.
Vocational Education.
The fruition Of the seeds shown in
the above outlined plan of vocational
guidance takes the form of vocational
education. This means establishment
OF vocational advisors and councils in
all schools, of school employment bu-
reaus, Of compulsory education laws,
OF continuation schools. such as Gin
cinnati, o., has established. 1t means
a united movement OF parents, Of
teachers, of school authorities, city
councillors. WOmen's clubs, trades un-
ions. chambers of commerce, Christian
associations, juvenile courts and legts-
Iative bodies, o movement that would
have as a result the saving of large
percent Of the present inefficient Next
can and American labor, partial So
luton of many social industrial and
educational problems and, best OF all,
the grandest. the most beautiful form
Of social service, the guiding and pro-
tecting Of the youth OF our land.