And his only school now is the school of hard knocks, his only teacher
a factory boss.
]
If the work of placement is to be done by the vocational school,
great insight into the true ability of the girl under actual
business conditions may be obtained by “part time” work. For
instance, Susan Williams, who is taking the course in dressmaking,
was placed by the school in a near-by establishment where she
spent her afternoons and Saturdays. Here she obtained a very
definite idea of trade conditions, also earned a little money to
help with her expenses and secured for herself by her own
desirable personality and excellent workmanship a permanent
position on graduation. In the same way Josephine Riley, who was
taking a course in designing, was placed by the school in an
embroidery shop where she did work in designing on Saturdays
during the latter part of her course. She too worked herself into
a permanent position for which she had demonstrated her
qualifications.
Occasion often arises to provide a girl with an opportunity to
earn enough money to keep her in school until graduation.
Sometimes the work found is similar to that pursued by the girl in
the school. Often it is not, however, for many times the girl can
earn more money in some other kind of work. Frances Newton, who is
taking designing, can earn more money by acting as assistant in an
office on Saturdays than she possibly could in any designing
establishment owing to her present limited knowledge of her trade.
Thus she is tided over a financial crisis without being deprived
of her school work.
[Illustration:
_Courtesy Massachusetts Child Labor Committee_