The Survey, Volume 30, Number 3, Apr 19, 1913Various
History
The Survey, Volume 30, Number 3, Apr 19, 1913
Various
Charities -- Periodicals; Social problems -- Periodicals; United States -- Social conditions -- Periodicals
The interest that college men have in this service which brings no
financial compensation is due to the natural sympathy that most students
have for those less fortunate than themselves. To awaken that sympathy
they need only to be shown a real and definite job to do and how to do
it. They can also be shown that industrial service is not only an
altruistic privilege and patriotic duty but also “blesseth him that
gives and him that takes.” This service affords an experience which
students need, for it enlarges a man’s vision, increases his sympathy
with “the other half” and gives a knowledge of how to deal with men.
_Enlisting Students the Service_
The methods of enlisting students are interesting. Lectures on
industrial conditions and needs and the college man’s responsibility are
given before students by carefully selected employers, labor leaders,
and social workers. Especially prepared literature is distributed,
articles are written for student periodicals, and an industrial library
installed in the college Y. M. C. A. building. Interested students meet
weekly, often under expert leadership, for a discussion of industrial
subjects. The student and city branches of the Y. M. C. A. join hands in
the movement, and, in co-operation with churches, missions, social
settlements, boys’ clubs, libraries, civic associations, factories,
labor unions, foreign societies, etc., discover definite opportunities
for industrial service where students can be useful. Experience has
proved beyond a doubt that volunteer service can be conscientious and
efficient. A settlement worker writes: “I don’t see how we could have
done without the splendid work of those college men.” After a few men
are put to work, others become interested through observation, and the
movement naturally spreads.
[Illustration:
A NOON CLASS CONDUCTED IN POLISH
]
In a three-day-campaign in New York, the industrial service movement was
presented to selected classes of students at Columbia, New York
University, and the College of the City of New York, with the result
that 280 students signified their hearty interest and 125 were willing
to undertake immediate work. In a single year 165 undergraduates engaged
in industrial service in New York city, and the movement has become of
such importance that a secretary gives all his time to it. This man was
captain of his university football team two years ago and became
interested at college. It is noticeable that generally the strongest and
most popular students volunteer for service. A list of those at work
from Yale includes varsity football, basketball, baseball, and track
men, intercollegiate debaters, class and fraternity officers, and honor
men. In many places the matter has been presented to the various
fraternities and has met a most cordial response.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account