The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-03
10. L. HATCHERY

very Clear TO tue puoiS' HN' o'>~
thing, 1t is a very large cooperative
movement: for. although the move-
ment may have come now at the sug-
Restion Of the bureau of vocatlons, the
time for it was fully ripe and has come
from the community itself as an IN
dependent enterprise. representing the
academic and philanthropic interests
OF Richmond. No other undertaking
could have united these varied inter-
ests so closely. Cooperating in
practical way towards its success are
the State Board of Health, Richmond
College and Westhampton College. the
Medical College of Virginia, the State
Board OF Charities and Corrections,
the Associated Charities AMI Instruc-
tive Visiting Nurses Association, the
Social Service Federation. the Y. w.
C. A., the Juvenile Court, the Virginia
Industrial School for Girls, the super
intendent of public schools. physician =;
and tho clergy Of many denominat! ms
and representatives OF many other
constituent activities OF Richmond.
Each organization has been asked to
euEeest ways in which the school
could best serve its need for trained
workers, and tho plans recently adopt
cd were formulated In tho light OF
the suggestions submitted in answer
70 that request
Need For Such School Shown.
This cooperation has come natur-
ally from a definite and widespread
conviction OF the need of such
school That conviction rests on ex-
perience, on observation, and on the
increasingly scientific temper of the
timeA Philanthropy in all its phases,
6tate functions of punishment. reform
Ar. >tr1r
mentally and the aged. protection OF
children, and scores of other related
activities. have come TO be recognized
n dangerous In the hands of the IN
Informed, and as resting far more
than was hitherto realized on facts
and principles born Of experience and
on fundam entail social sciences. Peo-
pIo arc realizing as never before that
the Intelligent social worker must
understand something OF the structure
and development of society, the reia-
ton Of capital and labor. the connec-
ton between mental and moral de
llnQuency, the principles OF heredity.
the superiority OF preventive measures
10 remedical. and OF many other
truths about which we have only re-
Gently begun to think hard.
Our most successful leaders In So
cial work are those who feel most
strongly the need of the training. and
= has been one of the interesting
phases OF the movement that SO many
Of these are expressing interest in tax
Ting the courses being provided.
Work Done BY Unframed.
Still another reason for the interest
In the undertaking lies in the TACT
that there In nowhere in the South q
training school similar TO the schools
OF philanthropy found in the East
and West This means that through
out the South. except for certain de-
nominational training schools, social
work must be done by the unframed,
or workers unfamiliar with conditions
must be brought from a distance, or
our own people must so North to Sc
cure their training under different con-
ditions. This last Is not always a dis
ADVANTAGE, but there are dangers, and
in any case the expense involved
makes the proportion who do not get
such training almost negligihle, so
that social work in the South is being
done almost entirely by the unframed
and by the outsider. to whom the con-
ditions are so different that the best
results are not often possible. Even
In tho short time since practical ar
rAngements for the school began many
Sims have come 70 us OF interest out
side OF Richmond and Virginia There
q every reason to believe that a we'll
developed training school. such as the
directors OF the School OF Social Econ
omy mean this to be. will become in
flusntiAl throughout the South. 1t has
in it the power to create a new era
In the practical philanthropic activt-
t1es Of many sections. It ought to be
matter OF State and city pride to
make 1t realize these possibilities
quickly. Being an institution unique
Ia the South 4 can advertise Rich
mond widely and favorably. and,
and support.
A second advantage offered will be
the opportunity for men and women
working unprofessionally in philan-
Ghropies and church workers of all
denominations to deepen their own
understanding OF the principles on
which their work must rest Most of
tho lecture courses are to be given
late In tho afternoon or in the even
ing. and many thoughtful workers on
the boards OF our great charities and
others would find 1t practicable and
wise to give two or three hours week
70 some course fundamental in their
special work. C1ergymen are coop
Grating to make the training or~Special
value to church workers and others
TO provide what Is needed for other
unprofessional workers. Gradually
such q school In our midst ought to
build itself into the public conscious
meas OF large social forces. Coming
out Of the best thought and ambition
OF the community. 1t ought to give
back fuller community understanding
Of the social fabric In It's various hui
man relationships. Courses in civics.
with the secretary Of the Civic Asso-
ctatton directing them, must certainly
ofEaE possibilities of more understand
Inn citizenship knowledge Of the prin-
cipIes Of sociology and economics. or
ii medical and social delinquency
might raise the level Of almost every
phase Of volunteer work for the I'M
fortunate. Lectures adapted to the
needs Of such workers and not invoiv-
sing the academic credits and exami-
nations leading to a diploma will be
provided as a part of the extension
work OF the school.
A Modest Beginning.
The beginnings will be modest on
the material side. No buildings are to
be erected, but four institutions--the
Presbyterian Committee Of Publica-
ton. the Collegiate School for Girls,
Mechanics' Institute and Seventh
nfrnnf fvhrisf}nn church bayo o%vora.,