Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-09-29
What Future Citizens Think
OF Perth Amboy Outlined By
Chamber OF Commerce Surrey

What are the future citizens and
civic leaders of Perth Amboy think
ing about their city? What would
they like to have done to make the
city a better place in which to spend
their lives? Is Perth Amboy going
to get full return on the invest
ment in the training of those it re-
lies upon for its future development?
A survey has been made by the men
directing the reorganization CAM
paign of the Perth Amboy Chamber
of Commerce with q view to secur-
ing answers to these questions for
| the benefit of the enlarged organiza-
ltion when 1t takes up its work fol-
lowing the membership drive next
week.
The survey has just been compiled
1t was made in the Perth Amboy
High School. The students were ask
ed to answer three questions which
would lead to an expression of their
views regarding the needs of Perth
Amboy in which, because of their
future share in the life of the city.
they might be expected to take an
interest. Blank forms were pro-
vided for the purpose. The ques-
|tions were answered in, writing by
292 girls and 248 boys, or $40 in all.
This was nearly a complete enroll
ment of the school.
AS compared with similar surveys
made in other cities, the responses
were notable for the number who
expect to remain in Perth Amboy. In
no city has the percentage been so
high. On the other hand, the fu-
ture citizens noted a large number
of things which they deemed neces-
sary in order to make the city more
desirable as a home and place in
which to work. An unusually large
proportion of the students have de-
cided upon their future occupations.
The results of the survey doubtless
reflect what is discussed at school,
thought about at home and reported
in the press.
The questions on which the survey
were based were these:
"What vocation do you expect to
pursue?"
"Do YOU intend to remain perma-
nent in Perth Arnboy? (If not, why
notify"
"As a future citizen what would
you suggest that the Chamber OF
Commerce should undertake for the
improvement of Perth Amboy?"
As to vocations, 200 boys and 2S1
girls had definite ideas, a remark
able proportion. Practically all OF
the boys are planning to go into
business or the professions. A few
mentioned trades such as carpentry,
plumbing, and those of the ma
chinist, automobile mechanic, sta
tionary engineer, and electrician, but
thirty-seven purpose being civil
engineers, twenty-one chemists,
twenty-one electrical engineers.
nineteen lawyers, fifteen mer-
chants, fourteen doctors. eleven ac-
countants, and seven bookkeepers.
The other occupations mentioned
were Y. M. C. A. worker, chemical
engineer, electrical engineer. cattle
breeder, mechanical engineer, drug
gist shoe manufacturer. office work.
er, private secretary, mining engi-
neer,s. dentist. farmer. jeweler.
craftsman. construction engineer.
culturist. U. s. forester. musician.
salesman, physical director, and
commission merchant.
The range of activities planned by
the girls was smaller, but there was
q greater degree of decision, seventy
six purpose taking up teaching, nifty
three stenography, forty the duties
of private secretary. Twenty-three
expect to become nurses while TWEEN
ty-one, almost as many, are looking
toward bookkeeping as their occu-
patton. Although other ''vocations"
mentioned were gymnasium instruc-
ton, the law. office work, medicine,
typing, accountancy. authorship,
factory work. costume designing.
music, dietetics. interior decoration.
landscape gardening. pharmacy. IL
brary work. social service work,
agricultural extension, elocution,
journalism, and dressmaking, no one
appears to have thought of home
making.
The answers to the second ques-
tion showed that 1853 of the boys and
|235 of the girls expected to remain
In Perth Amboy permanently. This
is an asset of which Perth Amboy
may be proud. Many of those who
stated they would leave the city gave
as a reason that there were better
opportunities elsewhere. or that liv-