The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1949-06-09
. .&Z MS
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| All ONcI tie ldIlu SCHOOtS, tOi-
leges and universities are pouring
their populations out into the world
of work, wages and salaries.
For those who are going back to
classes next fall the problem is
one of temporary occupation, or
maybe for temporary loafing. In
any event, for those who do not
have to earn their own way
through school, it isn't so serious.
But for the "fnalists" and for
those whose own earnings pay their
way, there will be many a problem
| this summer.
And there will be many a serious
decision to make.
Many schools now have facilities
for aptitude tests and these are of
great value-if the showings of
the tests are needed. ! think it is
not to be denied that new aptitudes
can be developed, but the tests do
show lines Of greatest aptitude, of
natural tendencies and abilities.
I. 4 =
Many young man will go forth
with the idea that he wants to be
behind a counter, whereas he
should be surrounding himself with
the tools of a trade and getting to
know about unions.
There is something about higher
education that seems to create an
idea that the professions offer some
kind Of preferred field Of endeavor
and that higher education is worth
something only if it leads to pro-
'fessional life.
And that is lot of hog wash.
1t seems to me that the primary
purpose of education is to fit one
for living and there is a lot to liv-
ing that has no concern with en-
ployment or the place or kind of
employment.
One of the important parts of
the whole thing called living is in
formed and intelligent participa-
ton in the working of our society
and our government.
Education should enrich life, re-
gardless of occupation or vocation.
Il !. :.
In the last national election only
about 81 percent of the eligible
voters went to the polls to help
determine the kind of government
we are to have.
And the percentage Of college
graduates who voted was lower
than the percentage of non-grad-
uates.
Somewhere education slipped a
cog with those voters who had
gone through college. You can ego
through" college, it seems, getting
the proper credits, but not getting
much Of true education.
If higher education developes
understanding and broadens out
look, then it would seem true that
the best educated should be the
most avid in their determination to i,
see that free government works at
its best-that free people may re-
main free.
As our young people go about
seeking jobs, something in their
school background should keep tell
ing them that, important as jobs
may be, the whole business of liv-
ing is important and the whole
participation is vital.
:. \ Z.
| wonder whether too much of
youthful life is not focused on the
idea of making good" in a pro-
fession, by which they mean MAX
ing plenty Of money.
Being a good lawyer, or a
"good Doctor, or a "good engine
err, should mean also being a good
citizen in the all-around business
of living.
We get political bosses because
we allow them to rise and gain
power.
We get corruption because we
permit it.
We get weak governing bodies
because we permit them.
No part of our community, state
and national life will be good un-
less all of it is pretty good. And if
each person centers his or her in
terest in only one phase of that
life, such as the job, then the whole
thing will be threatened sooner or
later and it may collapse.
It's grand to get out of school
or college, perhaps, but not so
grand if it leads only into a groove
of life from which all the rest is
excluded.
n NJ