The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1917-02-23
ONES OWN PLACE
PROBLEM THAT CONFRONTS BOY
STARTING LIFE WORK.
Examinations Made by Experts Are
of Supreme Importance in Guiding
Footsteps of Youth Into
Their Proper Sphere.

In view of the practical quality of
the results of psychological examina-
tons, it is not unreasonable to sup
pose that much practical knowledge
can thereby be gained concerning an
individual, which may give a clearer
conception as to his place in the world,
and may even indicate the conditions
which lead to his fullest development,
Pearce Bailey, M. D., writes in Scrib-
ner's.
The boy who seems to have no spe-'
cial qualifications or special interests
should h gin to- prepare for his life
work is convicted by his own indif-
ference Of not being first class. In
the event Of his parents having no
employment or occupation ready at
hand, he falls into something hap
hazard. Such a boy under present
arrangements may have aptitudes
which might permit him to excel at
some particular calling, or he may
have defects which definitely prohibit
certain callings.
There is another class of boys be-
tween whom and their parents there Is
disagreement as to what they should
do. Each is, perhaps, controlled by
an idealistic preference for some Occu-
patton, but the ideals do not coincide.
Psychological examinations might
determine whether the boy really had
some leaning to or qualifications for
what he wanted to do, or whether his
ideals on the subject were purely imi-
tative without solid foundation, and
whether he would do better at the call
ing his father wished him to follow.
In, deciding this question, the antipa-
thy which not infrequently exists, al
though hotly denied, between parent
and child would have to be considered.
1t has often been found, when parent
is determined on some one thing and
the son just as obstinately on another,
that the divergence Is not on the real
issue, but on a personal antagonism
which neither of the two admits.
There is another large class Of boys
and young men who are almost GER
tainly predestined to get in wrong un-
less they are wisely directed in youth.
There is some twist in their mental
makeup, either congenital or acquired,
which units them for certain lines Of
work, and If they follow these lines
the result is not only economic failure,
but physical and mental collapse. Such
young persons are recognizable by
variety Of signs. =. There Is no
absolute standard by which such 1ndi-
viduals may be judged as a class. On
the contrary, each one is different, de-
pending upon heredity, environment,
early education, passionate prejudices
acquired through individual expert
ence, lack of balance in learning and
a discrepancy in moral development,
capacity and ideals. Each requires q
different social remedy. They are
boys that present the most serious
problems that parents have to face,
such as drinking, failure in studies,
tendency to evil associations, criminal
and immoral tendencies. The vast
majority of these are the product of
conditions and are not incurable de-
linouents. Could the fundamental dis
harmony be recognized early enough,
and could conditions be changed,
many of these boys might be saved
from ultimate collapse and might be-
come useful citizens.