Arkansas State press., 1944-08-11
GUEST EDITORIAL"
"TflE n POSITION
OF THE
L OF TODAY
Ry Mrs. V. I. HegW0Od

by MIS-. " L.. lle8NOuu
Note: The writer of this article, Mrs. Y. T. Iegwood,
is 4 graduate Of Dunbar High School and Junior College.
with the Bachelor Of Arts Degree from Morgan Maryland
University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is teach
er in the Dunbar High School of Little Rock and is a men,
Der of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority.
The position which many parents have taken during the
last ten years is that they do not want their children to
work as hard as they ha do work. In taking this position,
they are probably robbing their children of the best means
of getting an education and learning the things which would
cause them to be successful. These youngsters who grow up
with the parents attitude that they must not work hard,
hat by getting a formal education hey can forget the drudg-
cry of life are not likely to succeed. The general statement
that we hear from prospective employers is that the young
people not only do not know how IN many cases, but they
don't want to work. They all want to get to the top but by
one big leap. The mental position of the parents that their
children should all get white collar jobs is making the
whole situation a serious one. The result is that we have
too many people wanting white collar jobs and most are
not willing to do the other things which might eventually
lead to a much better position. The percentage Of people
with white collar jobs IS very small compared to the great
mass OF us. Parents who take the position that, because of
their background, they should have certain favors, are also
%deadening to the development OF the youngsters. 1t places
them in the wrong light, and offers q good opportunity for
them to get the wrong viewpoint Of life. Besides, favors
only give one IN opportunity and do not insure success.
In one of the largest business industries in this state en-,
PloyhG hundreds, a study was made between the success
lQi and unsuccessful employees. The study revealed one
very interesting factor and that was that the people who
came i'll on their own hook, that is, came in on what they had
to offer and not on pull, stayed six times as long in this
employment as did those who came in on pull. The gen.
eral conclusion reached by the employment office was that
the mental attitude OF the young person was responsible.
Ills father or mother or some influence had got him
the job but this same Influence couldn't keep it for him. We.
are trying to say that good hard work and responsibility
are by lar the best training Tor success and happiness.
One young man went into a certain office to interview
a prospective employer. He started out by telling him that
his father was an important man about the city and he
didn't know whether he would be interested in the position
or not. He had come to find out what it was, emphasizing
the fact that, since his father had money he could be very
choosy about the position he took. As you can imagine,
the interview was very short, and another fellow got the
job. Not that the first young man didn't have ability and
good framing, out his mental position toward life Wa on
tirey wrong.
the other day that when he was making his career he kept
IN mind this little story. 81 was not afraid of the hat that was
hanging, on the peg just above mine, but | was scared to
death of the hat that was hanging on the peg Just below
mne' because 1t shipped, the other fellow was going to
move up in my place then his hat would be above mine" /
don't think young people can afford to feel superior because
the down trodden may suIpass them, and in fact, that is
what Is taking place, IN my estimation, all over the country.
because the superior groups are not quite Wiling to admit
minority groups, or shall l say the down trodden, are NOV
ing up to the higher places. The fellow with the chip on his
soulder will have a difficult time. 1t is true that some people
get by when having nothing more than brass and buster
that allows them to get through life. That number is small
and most of US can't afford to take that chance.
Two mothers came to see me the other day who wanted
to discuss the situation of their children. They had been
IN trouble, not too serious, however, but very much on the
brink, | suggested two alternatives. Neither was accept
ed because one lady SAID that this would be a step down for
their families, that no member had ever worked or done
a thing like suggested. pointed out as best | could that
times had changed, that life was not what it once was,
that many things had gone with the wind, that thought
they would have to have a new outlook on life and accept
certain things which were unknown to their families. Both
of them refused my suggestion on the basis that could
not understand their backgrounds and what it would mean
to their families. Last week one of the little boys was sent
to the Boys Reform School for a similar offense and think
because of the naughty attitude Of the parents.
President Roosevelt, speaking to a graduating class a
few years ago, made this remark, Your best asset is to
know the common people" and wonder what right any
one has to feel that he is better than the mass of us who
have to work hard for what we get even though tat may
be little. The youngSter with a whole hearted attitude, with
an understanding of himself, and the social problems of to-
day, is a long way on the road to success, but the person
VINO Is always pleading for tayors, pleading for sympathy
and consideration is going to have little chance in the years
to come. |
Another mental attitude which is dangerous to every
one and particularly to the individual is The feeling that
one must keep up with the Joneses.' In order to do thisI
many Youngsters have restored to practices which were
crtain to lead to defeat.
Many Of our boys and girls who are ambitious have
the desire to wear the kind of clothes that other people
wear, to go places that other people go but on account of
lack of money, and not being able to do it, are placed in al
prec9rlous condition. There is a real temptation for young
people to try to meet the so-caIed standards of others and
it is quite natural for boys and girls to want to do what