6 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 386 



When asked how education had helped them, answers were vague, but three out 

 of five indicated that the main thing these boys and girls gained from their ed- 

 ucation was either general knowledge or the social prestige that comes from 

 having been to school. Most of the other answers mentioned directly some 

 specific skill acquired in school, and several stated that vocational guidance was 

 the chief way in which their education had helped them. 



In general, these boys and girls appeared to be satisfied with what their educa- 

 tion had done for them. None of the boys mentioned what their education lacked, 

 although six girls noted that their schooling had not prepared them to do anything. 



Half of the young people — 50 percent of the boys, and 46 percent of the girls — 

 said they did not plan to go to school (or back to school) the next year. In general, 

 those in school were much more certain of entering the next year, than those out 

 of schopl; and in general, the schoolgirls showed more inclination to continue 

 in school than did schoolboys. Three-fourths of the girls and two-thirds of the 

 boys in school planned to continue the next year. 



Figure .5 



VOCATIONAL COURSES WANTED 





m 



Of the youths who did not plan to return to school, not all were staying out 

 from choice. One-fourth of the boys and girls indicated that they wanted to go to 

 school the next year, but would be unable to attend. Lack of money, and the 

 necessity of working were mentioned frequently as reasons. 



Practically all of the reasons given for continuing in school showed a strong 

 desire on the part of these young people for specific vocational training. They 

 were dissatisfied, in other words, when high schools did not provide such training, 

 and their desire for more education was concerned mainly with the chances for 

 acquiring skills to be used in the occupation of their choosing. 



