Page:Engineering as a vocation (IA cu31924004245605).pdf/95

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
ENGINEERING AS A VOCATION
81

do not aim to fit the boys to fill the positions in the ranks and fill them acceptably, so that finally the private may become a corporal, the corporal a sergeant, the sergeant by hard effort becomes a lieutenant and then having placed his feet on the lower round of the ladder of promotion, his future is secure. The majority of the graduates look upon themselves as cadets in training for a commission which is theirs .by right of scholastic training, upon graduation.

The boys may be taught to do the work t at belongs to the minor positions, but they are taught no respect for the work, it being regarded as something disagreeable which all young fellows must do for awhile, but which should not be done for a long time, nor be considered as anything more than a bit of perfunctory training. The German studies for the power that education gives him. The American boy studies to enable him to earn big money and escape drudgery. This is shown by the rush toward specialties reflecting big work being done in the vicinity of the homes of the students. The German does not grumble at the prospect of six years of severe training, during which time he imbibes a love for the work, while the constant cry of Americans is that vocational courses in portions of engineering work be cut down to two years.

A prominent educator, in addressing a class of engineering students said, "Our aims are high. If