Evening star., 1933-06-11

hurdy gurdy man. there are always
other signs of June's approach. The
poets and columnists early begin TO
daunt banners about the merry month of brides
and roses They also like to poke fun at the
starry-eyed graduates about to stride forth and
conquor the world with diploma and thesis
on some weighty subject. such as granting tnde-
pendence to the inhabitants OF the Philippine
Islands. F
This year, Washington high school graduates,
in company with thousands Of their kind
throughout the country. view the cloudy eco
nomic weather with anything but belief that
the world Is their oyster just waiting to be
cracked. Few Of them will escape making some
adjustments to their long cherished dreams OF
what-I-will- do -after-I-graduate. Some OF them
viii matriculate in local universities instead OF
having their midnight suppers many dollars
away from the home fires. Others win put away
hopes Of attending local college for a return
to high school or the e.ening classes sun
others may get their first taste of public service
in volunteer work along some line allied with
their chosen but deferred profession.
What is the rainbow in the sky for the young
man or woman graduating from Washington
high schools this june into disturbed order
OF things? This question was asked of several
authorities in touch with this element Of the
population.
More education" promptly responded Dr.
Stephen E. Kramer, himself the father Of
s ent of public schools of the District of Colum-
bia. In July he will have completed 43 years
of continuous service with the public schools
here. The June graduates he has known would
probably make line from Ocala, Fla, to
Seattle, Wash, If placed shoulder to shoulder
in single file.
Character building" spoke up Miss Mary
Iackey principal of the Dennison Vocational
school, a public trade school for girls. ''Our
graduates have now the opportunity of life
time to help their families maintain their
standards of living in the face of reduced in
comes through the lessons learned in our
school. They spread scientific information on
how to come through the depression with
health and morale still intact"
Proper use of leisure time said w. +.
Smith, principal of the Abbot Vocational School
for boys Our graduates able to use the
greater amount of leisure adolescents now have,
with direct benefit to the community and the
family. They are trained to be occupied con-
structively at the work bench in the basement.
tinkering with the family getting out an
amateur neighborhood newspaper. Thus the
present time is vestibule leisure-practice for
them for the shorter working day and five-day
week in the offing"
Opportunity for volunteer public service Is
the thought Of Mrs. E. K. Peoples, executive
head Of the Community Center Department OF
the Board Of Education. IF the graduates
have some special talent they can demonstrate
by leading group IN recreational system
or can teach others the JOY Of a hobby they
could find expression in volunteer recreational
work"
Fewer work certificates points out Miss
Fay Bentley, should mean more children in
school and that is one rainbow slant on the
situation She is director of the department OF
school attendance and work permits for the
Board of Education Children under Is years
of age are required to obtain a certificate OF
release from the school authorities before taking
gainful employment. There have been many
less of these papers issued during the past
year.
Keeping children under l6 years of age out
of employment entirely during the depression
will reduce to a considerable extent the post
poned cost which exploitation of adolescents
can pile up against the next generation" read
the report made by Miss Frances Perkins to
the Child Labor Conference held here In
December She was at that time industrial
commissioner for the State of New York and Is
now Secretary of Labor of the United States.
This report is credited with having given i'm
petus to the passage of the child labor amend
ment to the Constitution. After nine years 1t
looks as If sufficient States would ratify the
proposed measure, long neglected in legislative
pigeon holes, to make it a law soon Graduates
OF today will be the citizens bearing the back
wash Of the depression 25 years from now.
More children kept out OF employment needed
by adults and directed toward preparing
themselves for their future heritage will mean
a smaller after burden.
TOR genuine optimism and complete faith
in the ability of this years graduates TO
master their obstacles DIR. Kramer might be
said in school parlance, to go to the head Of
his class.
An open mind is the finest equipment our
1898 graduates can have for facing the world"
Vr sAnA fha t~rf to Eonr,
1t is to continue their education in preparation
for the day they will be called to the job.
believe earnestly in the so-called new deal
applied to our young people and their futures.