BUSINESS AND THE SCHOOLS [To the Editor of Tax SPECTATOR.]
SUL—I read with considerable interest the article, " Business and the Schools," by Sir Francis Goodenough, appearing in your issue of January 18th. I agree with the general concern expressed by Sir Francis as to the need for a thorough reor- ganization and possible rebuilding from new foundations of business education. Just prior to the Great War I had an opportunity of examining German educational methods on the spot, and remember very distinctly conveying to the then President of the Board of Education in an interview (arranged under the auspices of the Trades Union Congress) that my firm impression was that we had to fear far more the German educational methods than a big German Navy (there was then the cry, " We want eight ; we won't wait "). Ever since then I have been stressing the desirability of reorganizing our educational system from the commercial and industrial aspect.
I am, however, very much perturbed at the trend in certain circles of wanting to create a cast-iron rigid system of recruit. ment based upon pre-industry educational opportunity, and it would have been interesting as well as important if Sir Francis had amplified his statement " that every firm should have a definite policy of recruitment for each grade, and a clear knowledge of the sources from which the right type of recruit can be obtained for each." Brain potentiality does not depend entirely upon the school the future entrant into industry and commerce attends, but I agree that brain-power does depend upon the education, quantitative and qualitative, which the future entrant into business is able to receive before he starts his business career.
Everything therefore depends upon opportunity, and I have a strongly rooted objection to positions in business being restricted to those who have had better pre-industrial oppor- tunities than others, because experience has gone to show that, given the opportunity, the children of working-class parents can be as successful in business as those who have had better opportunities than they, as far as school educational equipment is concerned. Until we have a free and broad highway to the Universities every facility should be given to the early entrant into business to take advantage of opportunities that exist
by which he can become qualified for high industrial posts—for example, day-time continuation classes and courses and evening study. There are other facilities at the disposal of employers of labour which I need not enumerate here to enable them to judge of the potentialities of those in their employ- ment. It is just as necessary to have an intelligent economic democracy as an intelligent political democracy, and I hope that the leaders of industry and commerce will not overlook this fundamental fact.—I am, Sir,. &c., HERBERT H. ELVES (General Secretary, National Union of Clerks and Administrative Workers). 17-20 Holborn Hall, London, W.C.l.
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