By ANNIE L. DIGGS. The Social Center Publishing Co., Detroit. 70 pp.
Price $.25; by mail of THE SURVEY $.30.
Although, like Hayne’s famous speech on Foote’s resolution, this book
shoots a passing reference at almost every topic of public affairs, it
is in essence an argument for establishing an employment bureau in
connection with every educational institution in the United States. The
reasoning of the treatise, like its rhetoric, is thoroughly
ill-digested. While the author has imagination enough to see the perfect
beauty of a social adjustment which would provide a suitable occupation
for every educated person, and an educated person for every occupation,
she apparently relies on the sentimentality and good-heartedness of
mankind to bring this about.
Her program for starting an employment bureau is to get a handful of men
and women into a parlor and start one. The task of launching raw
youngsters on their life-work is to be done at first by volunteers
“whose imaginations are quickened by a longing to serve humanity.” The
author is evidently unacquainted with the history of vocational guidance
in Boston, which has emphasized above all else the need of full and
scientific information about industry and individual aptitudes before
placement is sparingly attempted. She says not a word about the age at
which children are to be steered into jobs, and is apparently unfamiliar
with recent investigations in New York, Cincinnati and Philadelphia,
which have made it alarmingly probable that there are no positions in
cities into which it is wise or safe to place children. She seems to
accept as good, without discrimination, any and all attempts at
vocational training, at the same time not realizing that such training
should precede organized placement.
In a word, the book embodies nearly all of the fallacies and half-truths
which make so difficult the progress of wise educational readjustment in
this country at the present time. Mrs. Diggs describes herself as the
chairman of the Department of Employment Bureaus of the National Social
Center Association. It is to be hoped that if that organization ever
addresses itself to active propaganda, it will not adopt Mrs. Diggs’
views on finding work for children.