Evening star., 1925-06-16
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL J. COLLINS.

of Engraving and Printing. His
wounds made it impossible 10 con-
tinue that work so he took training
and this month he will graduate frop'
the University of Michigan
Out in Kansas there is a former
blacksmith. who had never had but
four months of schooling. He was
wounded and lost one eye. He spent
Al months in vocational training
is scholastic education. In that
three and half years he completed
his grade course. the high schooi
course and full college course, to-
gether with specializing in mathe-
matics in the college. Now he goes
to a Michigan high school as instruc-
tor of mathematics. He could not
have continued blacksmithing on ac-
count of his semi blindness and other
wounds Ii is claimed that adults
progress in studies much faster than
do children, and in all schools and
colleges the trainees have invariably
carried off the honors.
:: !; :: x
There was a bank clerk who WAS
receiving $3.50 a year: he was trained
in accountancy and now receives
s4,420 A toolmaker was receiving
$1,152; he is now purchasing agent
getting S2,SS0. Another toolmaker
earning $1,000 is now machine
shop instructor getting S3.024. \ Ia
borer was getting $3.50: he is now "a
stationary engineer receiving Sl.b ~
At present there are 25.762 men In
training, aside from lbs sick or or
leave: in 1921 and - the numuer
exceeded 100000 The number who
have successfully completed training
is 91 $50. Some have dropped ont
after being partially trained. tindinG
the course distasteful or not adapted
to their requirements, or after tram
ing they have found it possible to re
turn to their former vocations.
Commenting on the work, Gen.
Hines saws: There can be no choice
between the contemplation of thou
sands of broken, discouraged, impoV-
erished men. left neglected through
out the country to work out their own
salvation, as must have been the case
without vocational training: and the
spectacle today of these thousands re-
stored, self-reliant, contented ana
hopeful, marching along, step by step
and shoulder to shoulder with their
comrades and competitors in all
branches of the commercial, indus
trial and professional world. This is
result so tangible and so glorious
that it cannot be measured in terms
of money
x * X
Self-reliance, the stimulation OF
knowledge that he can again face the
world; is better than medicine. The
therapeutic effect of manual occupa-
ton has long been known to medical
doctors, but had been comparatively
little used prior to the World War
In modern hospitals occupational
therapeutics are practiced as medicine.
There is no literature on the subject.
although it's value has been taught
since 1900 a. ID. After the war doc
tors called for its use. and the hos
pital teaching today of carpet weav-
ing, of basketry, of metal working
and wood working is no longer just
busy work" to help the patients pass
the time. 1t is definitely prescribed as
medicine. The weaving of carpets
has d soothing effect upon distracted
nerves. as does other work.
In the Veterans Bureau this week
there is scientific exhibit of the so.
called occupational therapy, which is
very enlightening. The articles made
by patients are not there for sale, but
are there as a scientific demonstra-
ton. Not all patients are given the
same task: the work Is prescribed ac-
cording to the patients particular
need, and the effect is daily noted.
There is nothing in modern medicine
or surgery more interesting than, is
vocational therapy" as now practiced.
and daily miracles" of rehabilitation
Of broken men are being greatly aided
by this old yet newly revived science
Of the nerves. In our grandmothers'
day nervous women knit for hours,
though they never knew that that was
"occupational therapy." Veterans do
not knit--they avoid feminine tools
but the principle is the same, when
they get busy weaving carpet, making
baskets or tables or leatherwork or
silyerwork. The value of the product
is negligible, but the effect on their
bodies Is Invaluable.
Copyright. 1895. by Paul Y. cciiins.s