Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-16
u. s. TO HELP KEEP
CHILDREN in SCHOOL
Employment Service Will Also
Assist $4,000 Juvenile Wage
Farmers Here

More than 1900 Philadelphia children be-
tween the ages of fourteen and sixteen are
now wage-earners. and the number is con-
stautly increasing.
In an effort to give educational and v"ca-
tional guidance TO these children it is prop
able that the United States employment
service will combine It's new junior section
with tho placement and vocational guidance
department now existing as part OF the
Philadelphia Bureau of Compulsory Educa-
ton.
The Board Of Education has approved the
plan TO place Henry j. Gideon. now IN
charge of the Bureau OF Compulsory Educa-
ton, at the head Of the combined Federal
and public school Junior section
The Government will he asked to add two
men and one woman examiner as well as
one stenographer TO the local forces so the
work can be adequately handled. The Gov
ernment examiners would work with Miss
Gertrude Godfrey. now in charge of the
n,,cornent bureau, at 1923 Cherry street.
The state law requires tina, every child be
tween fourteen and sixteen years old shall
obtain a certificate from the Bureau OF
Compulsory Education before leaving school
TO work Thus the vocational guidance ana
placement department here came into cN-
stence. Miss Gertrude Godfrey mas eata-
ogued the principal facts concerning The life
histories OF more than 1900 boys and girls
Several hundred children crowd her office
every day seeking certificates and jobs.
To obtain a certificate child must have
proof that lie is fourteen years old that he
has completed at least six years of school
work; that he is physically fit TO WORK, and
that he has the promise OF a Jop'
Keep Child in school
You know, of course" explained MISS
Godfrey. that our great OBJECT is 10 keep
the child in school long as possible. often
il is not absolutely necessary for the ram
ily welfare that the child work and If the
vision of child and parent can be projected
so they sense the long drudgery OF the fu-
ture because of unpreparedness, some means
can be provided to keep the child IN school,
Through the placement bureau and It's cN-
aminers we first of all try TO influence the
boy or girl to stay in present classes OF
enter some vocational school,
"If we find that impossible. and it seems
necessary for the child TO work. We try 10
find out what the applicant is best htted 10
do A boy, for instance may nave a lean
ing toward the automobile trade. He can't
he taken In as an apprentice or regular en-
Move in an automobile shop till he is past
sixteen. but it is possible to place him as
Office boy or in some 'blind-alley' position in
an automobile plant where he can be getting
elementary knowledge of the work.
eve try to rouse the ambition of the boys
and girls To fit themselves for definite Ca
reers Shifting from one job to another is
the greatest evil of child employment And
| we believe it is largely due to lack of train
| ing and to the fact the children don't know
| what they want to do They need 10 try
several jobs before they mt.
In Touch with Children
every time a child changes his position
| he must report to US, so we have pretty
good record We find that every child
| changes on an average of once or twice a
| wear. and many OF them change jobs as many
| as six times a year. After We have obtained
| positions for them our work does not end
| We try to follow them up 10 ASSIST mem ,o
| progress and direct them till they have
| passed the age Of sixteen. when they arc
| no longer legally under our control
",rhe help of the teachers Is essential in
| this work. and we really need trained exam
| iners or social workers in all the schools. Ii
order to give each child the proper aid We
| should know his characteristics. his fam
| ilv history and personal traits His teacher
knows these things better than any one out
side his family
| Durng the war more and more childrer
entered Industry, and the United States EN-
nlovment service developed its junior section
| in many cities. When recently II was de
| cided TO open such u section in Philadelphia
Mrs. Anna Y. Reed, assistant director OF tn
naw work for the Government, was sen
here to investigate conditions. She foun
the public schools had already made
snlendid start in this direction, and agree
| with the school directors that 1t would b
| better for the Government to work In con
| junction with the Bureau of Compulsory Edu
cation rather than start new and separ
ate department here