The sun., 1916-09-09
HOW 1T IS POSSIBLE TO
MAKE CHILDREN VERSATILE
Neither High School Nor College Education Will Un-
assisted Cultivate Desired Observation-Disclosures
and Business Must Join Forces-ThatF Fact
Is Now Being Recognized.
By n. MANNING CARPENTER,
Hsadmaster the Carpenter School.

@ONvERsATION after breakfast
in an American hummer hotel:
Good morning. what sort Of
weather are We going to have to-day"
II can't say. I haven't been out:
we'vc had a lot Of Il lately. haven't
we?'
Long pause.
"What business are you in?"
This gives the cue to a line OF con-
%versation with which we are all IA
miliar.
When there Is no conversation many
will sit and think Others merely sit.
Those of us who have children also
cit and think and contemplate. Con
template often on what goes to make
the successful man. for we wish to have
our children successful. Is II money
and power. owe for exercise or leisure,
for literature and art. satisfaction OF
accomplishment or the contentment of
1eisurely thought?
1t Is possible to arrive at certain con-
illusions: a nan whom we regard as
successful has honorably accomplished
his purpose, but the man we regard al
most successful Is he whom we honor
and respect and is versatile. How then
shall We make our children versatile?
A little experience in teaching chill
0ren will show that up to high school
age their work in reading. writing,
spelling and kindred subjects is con-
crete n their value is readily UNDER
stood. but the moment many boys have
had a taste of abstract subjects that
compel them to think they balk and
wan to go into business. These boys
have what may be regarded as an "in-
stinct OF trade" They rebel against
college work and seek their line Of
least resistance.
This is unfortunate. for It denies to
them for all time a period Of training
In an atmosphere that gives something
else to consider han weather and busi-
ness. A letter Just received says:
my son has been a constant puzzle to
me. After great effort he entered my
old college last fall only to bust out at
midyear. And since then he has worked
faithfully in a store at a job promptly
secured by himself unaided: but In
this business there is no future" This
boy will no doubt be successful accord
ing to his conception, but he can never
be versatile.
Contact with educators quickly
shows that those confined closely to
their profession cannot be versatile.
DR.. Elliott states: MANY highly edu.
Gated teachers have spent their entire
education in the region Of language,
&C.. but possess no manual skill what
ever. nor can they sing. draw or play
upon any musical inytrument."
Neither have they the experience OF
business men who have made possible
70 much material happiness.
Clearly then high schbol and COL
lege education In itself will not cult.
vate the desired versatility. There
must be a joining Of forces between
education and business.
Thus far, business il postponed until
Education is completed. although
technical schools are supposed to
bridge the gap. Even these schools
are confined to restricted professions.
n only recently business men have
written the Carnegie foundation that
they value their technical training at
only II per cent.
Colleges are attempting to correct
the late p~ostponement OF business
methods through the introduction OF
various courses. but the complications
OF business life require an understand
ing Of its elementary methods years
In advance Of a boys graduation.
By degrees the schools themselves
ere beginning to realize this fact and
ere reorganizing ceretain subjects that
relate more or less to business, and
are giving more intelligent training ia
boys who learn through observation
and experience. Schools are now pur-
chasing farms. printing plants and the
like, n vocational schools are spring
ing up everywhere, and, in a manner
Enthusiastically American, are APT
to overdo it.
Many Of these plans, though prop
erly conceived, are still impractical
Bookkeeping courses. for example. still
allow our children to embark upon
imaginary lines Of business. and with
entire safety to their p~ocketbooks and
themselves. Imaginary COWS worth
$50 may still be bought for 5000. and
stock can decrease with the rapidity
Of Rock Island" over night.
There is every reason to believe that
IN the neal future. business will be
linked directly with education. so that
young men graduating from college
a apply for a position with q rec
o%mmendation for work skilfully and
honorably one instead of presenting
letter from the minister of his homs
town.
1t is entirely practical for schools to
give q good business foundation with
very little outlay, yet in no wise inter.
fere with the vitality necessary study
Of Latin. literature and art. and re.
tain the cultural atmosphere of schoo
life.
For example. the purchase of books
at wholesale allows for IA discount o
20 to 40 per cent, The parents OF al
boys purchase books. and of all variet!
M pay retail prices.
Allowing any boy of the school
discount OF 8 per cent. for making
sale. parents will he glad to furthel
school interests by making purchases
solely on the merit of each sale. I'm