Evening star., 1945-02-19
JOSEPH D. KAUFMAN.
Education for Leisure Ursed

Education for Leisure Urged
To the Editor Of The Star:
Perhaps my experience in recreation
work in Washington may make the
following observations Of interest and
value to readers.
While social engineers are cropping
for solutions to the problems of employ
ment incidental to the war and its end
ing, perhaps it would be well to con-
slider the possibilities which lie within
the realm Of leisure employment as well
as labor employment.
1t seems rather paradoxical, but, as
much as we stress the labor end Of
living, the leisure end. in most in
stances, is the end which effects the
greatest influence in the behavior -shap-
ing process. It gives to life the many
ingredients which nature fashions into
personalities Of greater or lesser inn
portance In our social pattern; the
destinies Of both man and government
are directed by the poignant influences
of leisure's essence.
Labor for the sake of labor, or leisure
for the sake of leisure is not congrous
with the nature Of man nor the aims of
society. But to reconcile them; to team
them together in a wholesome and
harmonious relationship is the acme
in successful living. The art of living
involves more than preparation for
labor employment; 1t involves intel
ligent preparation for leisure employ
ment as well.
Preparation for leisure is education
for leisure. 1t means the functionaliza-
ton Of one of the cardinal principles Of
education, namely worthy use of leisure
time" 1t means the establishment Of
inner controls which will steer the in
dividual into wholesome channels Of
living
Shall we educate for leisure as well as
for labor? Can We insure happiness as
the end Of labor?
These are pertinent questions. They
have evolved from crisis in our civil
lization, a crisis which challenges both
the tenets of religion and the principles
of education.
Six out of 10 draftees have nervous
disorders; juvenile delinquency is ramp
ant: emotional disturbances among
civilians give physicians great concern.
These are but few Of the provocative
captions which we read in our daily
papers. We lay the blame for these abb
normalities on the war, but those who
know, base it on our way of life-a
predisposition which has resulted from
the way we have leisured, not the way
We have labored.
Labor disciplines its own employe;
conduct, energy and interest are made
to conform to the demands of the job.
Material productivity and output are
used as yardsticks of efficiency. But
leisure has no such restrictions beyond
interest itself. Interest disciplines, 1t
determines hours Of application: it con-
trolls conduct and generates energy
The yardstick of efficiency is the test
of living. wholesome living. abundant
living. The problem of leisure, then, is
threat and a challenge threat to
our civilization; a challenge to our social
institutions.
Because this threat and this challenge
do exist and increasingly are recognized,
believe that the communicable whole
community without regard to .diversive
inf1uences-will solve the problem, meet
the challenge and forever dispose OF
the threat. There can be no question
about our power to shape our own social
destiny. We are shaping it. We must
shape it. The alternative would be
degeneration. w. P. j.
Little Problem" Explained
To the Editor Of The Star:
The Associated Press reports that,
Edward J. Flynn's mission to Moscow
is still a mystery"
But the explanation seems simple
enough to me.
Mr.. Flynn telephoned the President
from New York and told him he was
planning to go to Mexico. Perhaps the
connection was not very good and the
President thought he said Moscow and
invited him to join the official party.
am always glad to explain any little
problem like this.
GEORGE d. WATRCUS, Jr.