The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-07-11

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overestimate their qualifications, yet
the bureau cannot be insulting. Par
ents frequently have decided on the
type of work the child should enter
before application is made, although
the bureau knows the child never can
be able to enter such work. Parents
frequently are unacquainted with the
child's efficiency and ability. In some
instances the individual tendencies of
the child, his preferences, have been
vetoed by the parents and usually
with dire results.
Many girls, for instance, untitled
for other kinds of work, look with
disdain on positions as saleswomen
and frequently are supported by par
ents whose action is prompted by
pride only. Incidentally, the bureau
has learned that only small percen-
tage of the children who leave school
early do so for economic reasons.
Rather, it has been discovered that
parents are making many sacrifices
to keep their children in classes, even
though some of them would be better
out of school when they reach the age
of fourteen years, the age when they
can seek work legally. Further edu-
cation is useless where the mental
equipment of the child does not per-
nit it to go further. Yet many par
ents do not realize this and continue
through pride their children in school,
when they could add to the family ex-
chequer and aid themselves at the
same time.
Young Girls Problem
Young girls leaving the junior high
schools also are a problem. Often
they are placed in factories or in
stores. Their progress is watched
and carefully tabulated and, should
the occasion arise and their advance
ment permit, better positions are
found for them. The placement coun-
sellers do not encourage such young
children to stop school and begin
work. Usually, they advise the ap-
plicant to continue his studies if fam
lily finances permit. There have been
students who, needing their advice,
have returned to their studies after
a few months in factory, store or
office
A complete card index record is
kept of each applicant from the time
he applies for work. The bureau
keeps in touch with employers, re-
questing them to send in periodical
reports on the employee furnished by
the bureau. There are some students
who graduate or quit school whose
record cannot be followed These are
the boys and girls who find positions
without consulting the bureau or who,
after the bureau has located them in
positions, slip out of sight and never
again communicate with the bureau.
Personal Appearance
The personal appearance of appli-
cants is another problem confronting
the bureau. The counselors cannot be
rude and suggest cleanliness, care in
selecting and wearing clothes, drop
ping cosmetics. Yet they know that
appearance often is a handicap to ap-
plicants despite their qualifications.
Some employers want both ornaments
and ability combined; others prefer
the palmer type, while the majority
seek brains, ability plus neatness and
businesslike appearance.
Recently an employer called on
Miss Belt for a girl of particular
brightness, outlining what was to be
expected of the potential employee. At
the time Miss Belt had two girls on
her list who would fill the bill. One
was magnetic, good looking, and
modern. This girl was sent to the
employer who communicated with
Miss Belt after his interview with the
girl and suggested that another girl
be sent to him for another interview.
The second girl, equally intelligent
and studious, but unattractive in ap-
pearance, the proverbial old-maid
type before her time, was sent. In
a few days the employer informed
Miss Belt the first girl had been en-
ployed by him. Another position
equally important and paying like
salary was found for the second girl
with an employer who was seeking
one of her type.
Placed In Factory
There was another girl whose
school record was low; yet she in
sisted on a certain type of position
when she should have sought employ
ment in factory, the level of her in
telligence. She was placed in shop
as saleswoman. Her record was
watched closely. She failed as sales
woman and in corresponding posi-
tions. Eventually, she took the fac
tory employment in which the bu-
reau initially had wished to place her.
She is happy and the employer has