The foregoing investigation is at least suggestive in its results. It tends to prove that there is an actual earning-capacity value in the higher agricultural education. While the matter has never been extensively studied, it can doubtless be shown that the graduates of the agricultural course are receiving much larger incomes than any of the classes named above. In addition it can doubtless be shown that these graduates are better equipped, not only for earning a livelihood, but for substantial citizenship. Of course there are many notable exceptions to this rule, but the rule is, nevertheless, general.
Now, if the farm parent wishes to figure his boy’s future on the basis of money-earning capacity, he can easily be shown that the higher schooling in the average case increases such capacity. In addition there is abundant evidence of the fact that the higher schooling gives the young man a much better equipment for serving the society in which he is to live.
A successful vocation certain
Finally, it may be said that the successful vocational life of the ordinary country-bred boy may be guaranteed as practically certain, provided he have every ordinary advantage of development and training of which he is capable. Train him early in lessons of obedience and work; make his life more wholesome through ample play and recreation; see that he learns how to earn money and how to save a part of his earnings; provide that he attend the public school regularly until at least the grammar grades be finished; give him an opportunity to become personally interested in the business side of the farm life; allow him opportunities to mingle with the cleanest possible society of his own age; and then await patiently his own inner promptings as to what line of work he should take up. A college course may prove necessary in order to help him uncover deeper and better levels that lie hidden in his nature. Then, after he has chosen a calling in this careful and reliable way, with all your might, mind, and soul encourage and support him in his efforts! This is practically the only way to make a big, efficient man and citizen of your boy and to make his calling a divine calling.
REFERENCES
Vocational Education. Published bi-monthly. $1.50 per year. The Manual Arts Press, Peoria, Ill.
Vocational Education. John M. Gillette. Chapter VI, “Importance of the Economic Interest in Society.” American Book Company.
Vocational Guidance of Youth. Meyer Bloomfield. Chapter II, “Vocational Chaos and its Consequences.” Houghton, Mifflin Company. The entire volume is most timely and helpful.
The Problem of Vocational Education. David Snedden, Ph.D. Houghton, Mifflin Company.
New Type of Rural School House. W. H. Jenkins. Craftsman, May, 1911.
Vocational Direction, or The Boy and his Job. Annals American Academy, March, 1910.
Education for a Vocation. President’s address before the N.E.A. Annual Volume, 1908, p. 56.
Vocational Direction. E. W. Lord. Annals Academy of Political and Social Science (Philadelphia), March, 1910.
Social Phase of Education. Samuel T. Dutten. Page 143, “The Relation of Education to Vocation.” Macmillan. The entire book is sound and sane.
Income of College Graduates Ten Years after Graduation. H. A. Miller. Science, Feb. 4, 1910.
Occupations of College Graduates as Influenced by the Undergraduate Course. F. P. Keppel. Educational Review, December, 1910.
Assisting the Boy in the Choice of a Vocation. Pamphlet. Wm. A. McKeever. Manhattan, Kan.
CHAPTER XIX
THE FARM GIRL’S PREPARATION FOR A VOCATION
What, may we ask, are rural parents doing in regard to the careful preparation of their growing daughters for the vocational life? The author has frequently asserted that many a farmer is to-day giving vastly more thought to the question of preparing his live stock for the money market than to preparing his girls for their life work. The seriousness, the well-nigh cruelty, of this situation becomes apparent only when we inquire into the facts. How long must this carelessness continue? How long will farmers remain indifferent to the tremendous responsibility of giving their children every possible aid in the direction of a high and worthy occupation? Their chief concern continues to be centered too exclusively upon the cattle and the hogs and the corn. Are the boys and girls to be left to shift for themselves? And are they to continue to have their careers determined by mere chance and incident?