The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-17
A Timely Editorial
An Educational Weakness
lChattanooga Timesl

There is tendency Tn our mod ern educational system to educate the boy and girl away from many of the essential and necessary voca- tions. The exodus from the rural districts to the cities is largely the result of this weakness. Business and professional life has been bla- zoned with a luster that does not belong to it. Boys and girls come to feel that in order 70 pc success ful they must get away from the commonplaces of the farm or the shop and involve themselves in the complicated activities of the city. There is something about the sys- tenn that seems to create dissatis- faction and distaste for the sim plicity of farm and rural life.
 To be sure, it is not, and never has been, the intention of our edu- cational leaders to create such a mental attitude. But it takes no especially keen observer to see that It IS fact, just the same.
 The remedy lies in new concep- tlons of success anG. ideals of a diff ferent sort. Too many youth are allowed to grow up with the feel ing that the work of the farmer, or the artisan, is misfortune to be avoided if possible. Then, too much IS made of the notion that there are grades of dignity in toil; that some kinds of work are less dignified than others and, therefore, to be avoided. There IS subtle something in our schools that begets in a boy the idea that the work of a lawyer, or banker, IS of loftier character than that of farmer or mechanic. Likewise the girl becomes possessed with the feeling that there is some thing about the counter clerk, the stenographer and the bookkeeper. away and above the cook, the seam stress and the home builder. And there we have it.
 Chambers of commerce. clubs and Youth must be taught that all es- sential work is equally honorable; !; that the labor of the farmer, the domestic, the mechanic, and the homebuilder is clothed with a dig nity, responsibility and responsibil- lty at least equal to that of the bus mess or professional man or woman. The false glamour that has attached to many forms of city life must be swept away and what has been re- garded as the commonplace must be invested with an importance and dignity that will challenge the strength and grip the imagination of our young people.
 Chambers of commerce, clubs and churches might well unite to create new atmosphere in which these new ideals can be given form and be made effective. All agree that something must be done to create new incentive for work on the farm-something besides a mere calling for making money. We are treated almost daily to outgivings from newspapers and politicians to the effect that the government must help the farmer; that his credit must be extended and his profits assured. All of this does not at- tract even the farm girl or boy to "remain on the soil," much less the city man or woman to go there. If farming is so bad few will want to engage in it. The same may be said of the trades and other manual oc- equations. All this must change. There must be added to the occu- patton of the farmer and manual worker of all classes something more attractive than mere dollars and cents. When that has been sc- complished, the dollars and cents part of it will take care of itself.