Advice to Graduates

A problem which is due to cause not a little heart-burning worry has been thrust upon public attention by the class day advice offered by the dean of Harvard College to that institution's graduates of this year. In substance he tells the class to avoid seeking work for pay if they can, and to continue their students.

His reason is practical enough in all conscience. "Perhaps no college graduates within the past 15 years," he declares, "have faced the economic difficulties which confront the college graduate this June." In the huge roster of the unemployed he finds his justification. It would be unwise, he suggests, for the graduates this year to join the general competition for work if they can possibly avoid doing it.

Thus, we are having brought home to us a problem which Europe and Asia have been wrestling with for several years past; the lack of opportunity for the young man and young woman who are ready to step out into life an begin work. No doubt, members of graduating classes who are able, and wish to, will go on a year or two more with their studies. They need no advice to do that. The broad question underlying the situation is, however, not susceptible to any such answer.

Education cannot be viewed as a pillow upon which youth is urged to sit down one moment beyond the time required to finish preparation for the more serious business of life. Education which bids youth to avoid the fight for which it has equipped itself is surely a dubious mentor. Beyond question, the difficulties in the way of graduating classes from our higher institutions of learning are this year formidable. But the only way to solve a difficulty is to grapple with it directly. Opportunity to earn one's living is found no other way, even in the darkest hours of economic distress. The Boston Globe