The New York herald., 1921-03-06
ESSAYS ON VOCATION Edited by
Basil Mathews. oxford University
Press
Reviewed by WILLIS STEEL.

Reviewed by WILLIS STEEL.
Vocational training since the win
ming Of the war has seemed to q weary
world one OF the keys to happiness
as 1t is to success. All the mistakes
that have been repeated from genera
tion to generation, and come. roughly
speaking, under the head OF the round
peg in the square hole are considered
inexcusable now. The world, selling
chance to make itself over. anxiously
desires to do 1t right. And the first,
the important thing is to At every
child for the work nature meant 1t to
do when grown to manhood or woman
hood
A first series of essays on this preg-
nant subject are ready and offered In
this book. They are as follows: The
Human Scene, by Basil Mathews,
M. A.: Vocation, by Edward Shillito,
M. A.; Vocation In Law, by Sir Ernest
Pollock (Solicitor-G -GeneraD Vocation
in the Home. by Emily 4. Whimster;
Commerce as a Vocation, by w. IL.
Somervill: Vocation in Industry: the
Labor View. by A. Ramage, secretary
of the League of Faith and Labor;
The Ministry, by Edward Shillito: Vo-
cation in Education, by J. Lewis
Patton, high master OF Manchester
(England) Grammar School; The Ca
reer OF an Elementary School Teacher.
by Fanny Street. NJ. A., secretary OF
the Teachers Christian Union, and
Vocation in Medicine and Nursing, by
Sir William Osler. Regius professor OF
medicine in the University OF Oxford
Work may be useful, may minister
to some extent to human needs. and
yet not develop the personality OF
those engaged In II. We are forced
TO face the fact that much work OF
undoubted serviceableness cannot
easily be vocational" This is truism
In the essay on vocation in Industry.
The writer adds: "Our considered view
is that the industrial system as II
stands has not sufficient moral justin I
cation. In the case of the great ma
jority OF workers there Is not at the
outset OF their industrial career any
real choice: they simply tumble In.
And without choice vocation Is impos-
sible."
How is industry TO be put on hu-
man, vocational and sound psyche
logical basis? 1t Is beginning to be
realized that II cannot be until the
idea OF vocation is implicit In the ed
ucational system. Great care and at
tention should be devoted at school TO
discovering what things boys and girls
are capable OF doing and would love TO
do. This has been tried at Gary, where
the result is said to be good; the same
ideas .of education grated on New
York schools have not been satisfac-
tory. The aim of schools in large
cities still seems to be for boys and
girls to fill positions at good salaries.
IT should aim to lit them to add some
thing 10 human Joy. welfare and
beauty, and these words are not TO be
scorned as idle idealism. Thus taught
20 look for soul needs, the boy or girl
will be better fitted to FIJI the afore-
said position"
'Tf vocation were seriously taught,
continues the essayist on industry, the
necessity would naturally arise OF
providing far more outlets than at
present The callings of the artist.
the priest. the lawyer, the missionary
must be open TO all boys and girls
with aptitude and desire for them.
Industry IN all It's potential ro-
nance. I'm it's conquest Of and by art,
It's use OF invention and discovery
industry capable on Q wide front OF