8 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 386 



others were undecided. The girls, particularly the out-of-school girls, felt the 

 need of a new organization most strongly. 



To the question as to what types of new programs the}' would like to participate 

 in, the answers showed that purely "social" activities, including dancing, were 

 not thought to be important. Only 7 percent of the responses were concerned 

 with this type of social program. Economic interests, on the other hand, received 

 by far the most attention, and after these in importance came programs con- 

 centrating on the improvement of personality. Evidently the young people 

 wanted a type of social organization which would help them to overcome their 

 problems — and their problems are principally economic. 



Recommendations 



The specific needs of these youths vary to some extent in the different towns, 

 so that definite recommendations will depend on facilities already available in 

 the local community. The young people themselves are in the best position to 

 determine the application of programs designed to meet their needs. A program 

 which would enlist their support in this way would go a long way toward filling 

 one of their most basic needs— the opportunity to gain recognition and a sense 

 of their own importance. 



More vocational training is wanted by these young people. Repercussions 

 of the National Defense Program have shown vividly that this is more than a 

 personal need. An expanded vocational training program for rural youth is 

 imperative. 



Present social organizations are not satisfying the needs of the older rural 

 youths. The 4-H Service Club or the Grange might be expanded to meet these 

 requirements. Any organization trying to meet the needs of this group should 

 offer a program designed to help young people in the solution of their economic 

 and vocational problems. In the past too much attention has been given to 

 recreation. 



Adequate placement service is lacking for rural young people. The study has 

 shown plainly the need for more adequate means of finding employment oppor- 

 tunities and allocating individuals to them. It might be desirable for high- 

 school teachers to discuss public and private employment services in their classes. 



It must be recognized that the needs of the young people are interrelated, so 

 that one need can not be touched without influencing others. For example, 

 the desire for more and better job opportunities on the part of these youths will 

 almost certainly be affected if the desire for more vocational training is satisfied. 

 Moreover, these young people have shown that they want their social organiza- 

 tions to fit in more closely with their struggle to achieve recognition in society. 



This brings out at least one further consideration. In getting jobs, the young 

 people showed that they have had to be largely self-reliant. Why not let them 

 pool their self-reliance? A young people's community placement bureau, even 

 though difficult to set up, would have the advantage of striking at several basic 

 problems. It would provide the needed placement service, and would also enable 

 the youths to demonstrate their own importance. In finding a place for boys 

 and girls in our society, methods should be used which will afford them the best 

 opportunities to work out their own destinies. 



Publication of this Document Approved by Commission on Administration and Finance 

 4M-1-42-8278 



