Evening star., 1935-09-15

menta-y schooling for their sons and
daughters. There was too much work
to be done School schedules used TO
be arranged so that the pupils could
work In the fields during the busiest
seasons Of the year when their abb
sence would have meant a real sacri-
fee.
Much the same situation obtained,
on higher level, in the colleges. Edu-
cation was cast largely in a tradi-
tional mould. When a boy or girl
left college there were open doors in
every direction. About the only occu-
patton for which the graduate was
specifically fitted was teaching but,
in theory at least, there had been
provided the basis equipment of in
formation and mental discipline which
should form the background of any
calling from politics to embalming.
Under this system youth was pretty
well equipped to take care Of itself.
1t had only to find a place and fit
itself into the space. In the vast ma
jarity Of cases. Of course. the finding
was purely fortuitous. The boy stum-
bled into a hole in the economic
structure and stayed there.
Now this has all changed. The es-
tablishment of the research project is
recognition Of the change. 1t has
been made obvious by the depression.
but it was under way long before the
big stock market crash Of 1929 that
marked the beginning Of the present
episode in American history. In order
for youth to adjust after leaving
school there had to be jobs. This
called for continuous expansion. The
older generation had to get out OF the
way and 1t was perfectly willing TO do
this by one road-the road upward.
Age Ratios Now Higher.
But now. largely through the ap-
plication Of science, the adult genera
ton is able to produce everything
needed with far less effort than few
years ago. Those who have jobs keep
them. Back in 1925, for example, l6
per cent Of the railroad employees were
under IS years Of ago. Today less
than 3 per cent are in this age group
And this Is one condition, the edu-
Gators feel, which will not be changed
by the end Of the depression. It prom
ises to be q permanent change in
American life. There will be less and
less opportupnity to learn trade or
business by actually working at it.
The results have been far-reaching.
When a pupil comes to the end of the
grades he has, generally speaking, only
two possibilities before him-to con-
tinue through high school or to do
nothing with very little prospect OF
ever doing anything. AS a result there
has been an enormous influx Of pupils
into the secondary schools, so that, in
q time Of decreasing appropriations
and mounting taxes, they have been
burdened as never before. And the
numbers Of unemployed youngsters
walking the streets, an economic bur-
den on their families, have mounted.
This is believed to be one essential ele-
ment in the crime increase. In many
cases the only way for the boy to get
money Is to steal 1t. He can no longer
earn it and, in q time of such eco
nomic stringency, his parents no
longer can give it to him.
This IS changing radically-and has
been changing for some time-the
f,ersnective of American od,Yeotyoy,
The problem Of its readjustment to the
changing needs is one of the most
vital problems. educators believe. af-
fecting the future Of America. There
Is no obvious path to follow. To de-
termine such q path, or at least to
clear away some Of the uhderbrush, Is
perhaps the chief objective OF the
100000 research project. It Is one
of the largest ever launched in the
field Of American education. It affects
Immediately q generation Of approx