The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-02-03
BY ROGER W. BABsoN

Babson Park, Fla, Feb. 3-Post-
war full employment depends upon
keeping the national income up to
$500 billions or more. This com
pares with a prewar figure OF $50
billions. Some increased
Preventing Unemployment
Three times in the past. the u.
S. was up against a similar prob
lem. "a In 1858, following the
Mexican War. there would have
been a revolution in the U. S. ex-
cept for the acquisition from Mexl-
CO OF Texas and seven other
states. (2) In 1879. following the
Civil War, there would have been
economic chaos except for the de-
velopment OF the railroads. go In
1923, following World War |,
there again would have been an
economic collapse had not the
"horseless carriage" saved the day.
To jack up national income so
per cent and prevent unemploy.
ment, some new great industry
must be born, or some radical
change must take place in educa-
ton. believe that-following
World War II-some revolutionary
change will take place in our sys-
tenn which now "educates" 80, 00O.-
900 people and spends billions Of
dollars annually. Hence, repeat
that postwar employment depends
upon our school committees.
Memories vs.. Brains
Here is my forecast: First,
schools will give less attention to
memory work and more to brain
development. Such memory work.
as is given, should be concentrated
on spelling. arithmetic tables and
vocabularies which knowledge will
help students get and hold jobs.
Second. schools will give much
more attention to training students
to think and solve original prob
lems,-work which they dislike to
do.
The above two changes would
mean that students will take home
more problems to work out, but
fewer textbooks to read. The ures-
ent craze of Juggling home a mass
OF textbooks. each day, results in
less thinking. Encyclopedias and
reference books can displace men,
cries; but nothing can take the
place OF brains. Employers can
install machines to do everything
but THINK. Hence, students
GhAa.l1 faNrnhf - nf4naA.. nj
create Jobs, rather than to memoir
ize and hunt jobs.
Need Of Good Habits
The third important change will
be in helping students develop
good habits and self-control. The
student should be taught to dag
nose and govern his own will, wor-
ry. anger. fear. etc. Upon these
emotional traits his health happi-
ness and economic value largely de-
pend. Students will frankly be
told that body mind and soul are
one; that work in the small labora-
tories of their private individual
lives Is more important than work
in the large laboratories OF schools
and colleges.
School committees will realize
that the students greatest need is
for self-discipline, so necessary to
coordinate body, mind and spirit.
Our present school system work
ed well before the days OF mass
production and modern conven-
fences; but IL continued along pres
ent lines will result in much post
war unemployment. The present
universal fear OF unemployment
and the increasing demand for "se-
curity legislation" clearly indicate
the present lack OF a pioneering
and independent character.
Spiritual Energy Necessary
Unfortunately school commit
tees are mistaking material wealth,
in terms Of dollars, for human pro-
gress. in terms OF usefulness.
Christian philosophy, biology and
psychology, as they relate to each
student. are very important. The
development OF this spiritual field,
following World War II, can be
as effective in preventing postwar