Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-12-08
new VISTA FOR
OLD SCHOOL men
VOCATIONAL WORK WINS
RESPECT FOR HONEST
LABOR

THE schoolman whose interests
have been almost entirely cultural will
have to shake himself and admit that
there is a new vista for him. The part
time and vocational problems are new,
complex, almost bewildering"
In this definite way spoke E. A.
Holm, director of the Vocational
school in this city, before the Home
and Education department of the La
dies Literary club at the monthly
meeting held Monday at the home of
Mrs. A. l.. Kreutzer.
In choosing his life work the young
man faces a problem of vital import
ance and he should act upon the best
possible information and COUNSEL"
continued Mr.. Holm. 1T is not a sat
isfactory solution to- leave him with
the vague statement The world lies
before you,' or to tell him that there
is always room at the top.
The young man learns after
time that the real test lies not so
much in ambition and looking up as
in effort, well directed. He then wants
to know what may be done and where
to take hold. In three different, yet
closely related ways, the vocational
needs of a young man are being met.
The first is vocational education, the
movement represented by the increas-
ing establishment of trade and techni-
cal schools made necessary long and
determined campaign along one or
two lines wildly portraying the
wrongs of children in this form of ex-
ploitation, before general interest
could be aroused Within recent years
the campaign has met with signal sue
cess and many states have granted
goodly measure of protection to the
children of the working classes as far
as the factory, mines and mercantile
establishments are concerned. Atten-
ton has also been directed toward
the premature employment of children
in work other than than connected
with the above mentioned classifica-
tons OF industry, for there are other
phases of this problem which involve
large numbers of children which has
received little thought from many
students of labor conditions.
The second is vocational guidance
administered through vocational coun-
sellers, and the third, is vocational in
formation based upon the view that
when the young man has the vocation
al materials with which to think and is
stimulated by parent or teacher to
make use of this data, his mind will
generally shape up the right solution.
I'VE are confident that Vocational
work as taught in Vocational schools
besides being interesting to the lpu-
pills, gives them greater respect for
all kinds of honorable work, helps
them later to choose more wisely their
life work, and convinces them of the
absolute necessity for thorough
preparation before entering a vocation
and holds many in contact with school
for longer period, many who would
otherwise drop out early in the race.
Vocational education has for its
purpose the development of those pow
ers of an individual which may be-
come effective for useful ends and the
development and creation of tenden-
caes to exercise those powers towards
those ends.
Ten years ago Wisconsin set up her
dual control Part Time schools; to-
day almost one-half of the common
wealths of the United States have en-
acted laws which require part time
instruction.
In Wisconsin we have the dual sys-
tenn of control. There is the State
Board of Education and the State
Board of Vocational Education. In
each city of more than 5000 inhab
ants there are two school boards; the
regular Public board and the Indus
trial or Vocational School board. There
are at present 40 Vocational schools in
the state of Wisconsin Under the
law in 1912 an Industrial or Vocation
al school was established in Wausau.
Glasses were at first held in the Grant
and Franklin schools. At first in
struction was given only to the boys,
but later instruction was also given
TO the girls. Later when the new city
hall was completed the common coun-
Gil allowed the Vocational School
board to use the old city hall fol- the
Vocational school. This building