Montana labor news., 1935-10-17
F.. f. R. A. ADULT VO-
CATIONAL TRAINING

The teaching of science is the toun-
dation of a true scientific government
Apparently the conservatives primary
objection to science resides in their be-
lief that scientists, engineers and tech
nologist's are devoid of the humane
tartan spirit. This belief is not shared
however by the kinetic mind that has
the knowledge of the facts. They nave
been directly responsible for the sub
~stantial progress made, and Tor the
comforts and Injuries Of life. Scien-
lists, engineers and teohnologists are the
only genuine altruists.
The functioning Of our life is m
lar to that Of a machine. In a machine
there are three factors; energy, motion
and control. The same three factors
are equally essential in the proper tunc-
tioning of society. Likewise, we have
today three types of individuals, the
conservatives, the progressive and the
large group Of people who Isolate them
selves from the arena where the des-
TIMES of society are decided.
First, the conservatives, who cling to
what has been and value what now is.
They are still bound by the old tradi-
tional formalities that are ir%relevent to
progress. Which reminds me very
much Of the sailors who were ship
wrecked off the coast OF South Amer
lea. After drifting many days upon
the troubled sea, all had persisted from
thirst except one. He dipped up a cup
Of water and to his surprise found it
fresh. This great body of fresh water
upon which they had been floating is
constantly being pushed out into the
sea many miles from the mouth OF the
great Amazone river. Those who per-
ished were conservatives. They thought
the sea was salt and did not drink.
Thought that impells no action is
futile. 1t is stagnation, death.
Next are the progressives. The sailor
who survived wa a progressive. He
did not die of thirst in an ocean Of
fresh water. Progressives believe in
discarding ideas, methods and tools
that do not fit the times and casting off
economic systems that have been
proven, time and again, to be obsolete.
They say why remain a beast of burden
when there is an abundant supply Of
material, tools and knowledge to make
us free.
They believe in calling the scientist
to speed up the change. They well
come a change, and push upward and
onward to a higher state Of civilization.
The one group of people, their feet
begged down in yesterday, remain I'M
changed. They have become static.
The second group push onward to-
ward what they believe is destined to
be a ever widening perspective. Thus,
we have a cultural lag between the two
factors. A cultural lag is the term
used to designate disharmony existing
between two factors. 1t is similar to
the disharmony in a machine that has
become out of line, out Of balance
producing only a clashing Of unmeshed
gears. 1t is in such manner hat cul-
tural lags manifest themselves. The
most basic cultural lag is due to the
rapid INFLAMMATION Of our national re-
sourcts without providing adequate
control over the mighty forces thus
precipitously set up. Man multiplies
his energy through the use OF ma
chimes. By the use of machines men
have become giants, but their ability to
control their vast power has not grown
in the same proportion.
With this gap between modern power
and its control we have a lag that is
dangerous. Machines have reached a
point Of potential de~structiveness This
is due to the laissez faire system, which
provides no scientific control. We
must establish control, SO that the ma
chimes will be used for constructive
purposes only, and as II energy pow
ers expand through the use Of machines
we must call in scientific methods to
direct them; or mans stay here on
earth may be a mere intenlude.
Why do we continue to stumble
along in the darkness after the effects
OF cultural lags are clearly recognized
by experts? The only reason must be
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