The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1957-10-24

centers, community clubs or the like
are not the answer but merely
anemic attempts to salve our con-
science and to justify our refusal to
travail and labor through to just
remedy" he asserted.
Retirement for most people, ac-
cording to the researcher, loses for
them useful place in society. They
can do work that is important so
far as personal life is concerned, but
few can any longer assume a place
of contribution to the social whole,
in Mr.. Sherriff's view.
He pointed out that a few who
are wealthy and independent can
operate their own business entil
they die, and that some government
positions make aged participation
possible.
AS for the farmers in the COM
munity studied, Mr.. Sheriff. found
that almost 100 per cent of them
contribute to the social whole only
unit in the population count, a
unit in monetary expenditure, or a
factor as consumer of goods. "He
is factor in society mostly as a
unit in statistical calculations"
wrote the BGSU researcher. "As a
personal factor taking an active
part, and making a positive contribu-
ton, he is limited to voting, tax
paying, church or other organization
membership, all of which are very
intangible and indefinite"
One major indication of the Sher-
riff study is that retired persons
can remain a normal contributing
factor to the social whole.
The retired farmers studied were
found to have excellent financial
security, intensive social relation
ships, high morale, an excellent
level of physical health, unified
family relationships, and general
satisfaction with life." The one thing
for which they yearn is the oppor-
tunity, as expressed by one of the
respondents, "to do something that
counts"
Society" Mr.. Sheriff. wrote,
"needs to concentrate on instituting
the trends that will eventually create
social structure in which this, the
greatest need of retired people, is
realized in a normal continuation of
life after retirement.
Mr.. Sheriff. found that the farm
ers of the Mcclure, Ohio, community
"have realized an excellent adjust
ment in their experience fretire-
ment in their experience of retire
respondent picture of the aged folk,
as pictured by so many geron-
tologists of our day, does not hold
true for all communities"
Pointing out that the percentage
of the aged in the nations population
is increasing, the researcher cited
census figures showing that in the
last so years the number of old
people has quadrupled while the
population has only doubled. He
added that the age of retirement is
decreasing and that people are
being refused employment at lower
and lower age levels.
In 1850, he pointed out, 2.6 pei
cent of the population of the natior
was 65 years of age or over. Ir
1916 this percentage had risen tt
7.2 per cent. 1t is estimated that BY
1890 it will have risen to 49,
per cent, he added.
Surely of great Importance i!
the production-consumption side o
this age period" he continued
MANY concerned about this sectio,
of mankind point to the wastet
manpower, the countless hours o
toll, the innumerable talents tha
are not being put into product o
value or wealth. This also involves
the increasing burden of economic
support that grows with the in
creasing percentage of the age'
population of the United States"
The Sheriff. study is entitled, "a
Comparative Study of The Adjust
ment of The Retired Farmers In Nc
Clure Community, Henry County
Ohio"
Mr.. Sheriff. received the Mastel
of Arts degree from Bowling Greer
| Sfate University in 1Qh5