The Washington herald., 1920-10-10

"WHAT are the chances of young per-
w son making good today in the teach
ing profession?S
put the question to Dr. Thomas E, Fine
gan, superintendent of public instruction in
the state Of Pennsylvania and one of the
nations foremost administrative educators.
Having started out in life as a black
smiths boy blowing bellows in a rural New
York state forge, and having climbed from a
little old ld-fashioned red brick country school
IN the foothills of the Castkdu mountains
where he first taught the three Rs at the age
OF sixteen years for the princely sum of
1913 a week-to educational leadership in
one Of the most populo4s and productive
states Of the Union, Doctor Finegan sym
bolized the authority that comes with ex-
perience.
From country school teacher to a state
conmissionership, having supervision over
the educational facilities of one tenth of
all the people Of the United States-surely
Doctor Finegsn, by reason of his own sue
cess, was in position to discuss the sue
cessful educator and the chances of young
men and women making their way in the
classroom.
So I journeyed to Harrisburg, keystone
of the Keystone state, and sought out the
genial state superintendent in his Office
under the dome of the massive state Capitol.
Success in any endesvor in life comes
through work-hard, grueling work" said
Doctor Finegan, his jaw set and massive
hands aggressiVely clenched. Behind the
smile of his keen blue gray eyes lies an i'm
prsssive personality an impressive indi-
viduality born out of life of effort.
IF 1 may say one thing to young people
apropos of success" he said, leaning for
ward in his chair, ''it is that success comes
only through hard work, plenty of work,
work all the time. Nothing comes of sitting
idly by and waiting the food of good for
tune. No man has ever climbed in any ave-
nue. of life except by hard work. There is no
rose -strewn pathway to the top.
Grind and keep on grinding-it's the only
way. Drudgery there must be; the drudgery
Of the classroom, the unrelenting toll of the
workshop, the ceaseless drill of humdrum
labor. Backache, headache, dull mo-
notOnous drudgery is the only way
GRIM challenge crept into his face as he
~ surveyed in one sweeping aspect the
whole field of world work.
There is no golden panacea by which a
man may hope to achieve in the game Of life,
except through hard work. That which we
get must be the reward of individual effort
The field is open to all; there is no limit
to the wonderful opportunities at hand. But
a man or woman must get down into the
hard. Vacations, profits and honorariums
come afterward."
Having prescribed work as the first
essential in equipment for life, Doctor Fine
gan had some additional fine points to en-
phasize.
PLAY the game straight-always on the
level he added in reflective mood. I'm
this way-and this way only-you stimulate
the confidence of your fellow men. And no
man or woman can hope to succeed unless
be has the confidence of his fellows"
With these fundamental issues well in
mind, Doctor Finegan was sure the next
and vital step was to secure a well-rounded
education.
"a young man may have chosen while in
grammar school or high school what he is
going to do" he explained. "In that case
be needs extra equipment in the way of a
specialized course of study in his chosen
sphere. This is an age of competition in
which the palm goes to him who has the
broader viewpoint and the wider touch that
comes through education. To enter the game
of life without this specialized equipment
means you must play under severe handi
cap all the time.
t. L. ~
earlier school period has no particular aim
in view, but is cropping to find the proper
niche in life. In that event a complete edu-
cation is even more to be desired, inssmucb
as the young student, picking his way
through a comprehensive course Of study,
may find the job for which he is pre-
eminently fitted"
Doctor Finegan believes every young per-
son should studiously incline himself to the
problem of finding out what he is best fitted
for, with the assistance of family and
friends. To get every man and woman into
his proper place is the great aim of the
educational system of today; when that is
done the problem of production may be
solved. With that aim in view ''the man
Who missed his calling and the "mis6t'' in
hfe must be dealt with through such channels
as the educational facilities which par
ticularize in vocational training and
guidance.
But the thing to do is to decide upon
one particular line, and then go after it with
all the energy you possess" was Doctor
Finegan's summing up this point. "a
person may excel in any one of a number
of things in life, provided he goes into it
Of It. l know plenty of school teachers and
educators who would be ringlesders in other
walks of life. But they are excellent teachers
and wholly a success. They had a particu-
lar aim in life when they started out and
they stuck to It until they became leaders
in their field.