Problems in Forming School for Social Work Described

sized. It is clearer today than before that the school must eventually have greater resources than it has. We are hoping that the two foundations which supply about half the income will continue their support at least for another five years. The federations have hitherto supplied less than half of the balance. The remainder of the school’s budget has been raised through special contributions from three members of the board, one of whom is unfortunately no longer with us.

The problem therefore arises as to how the school will be able to maintain itself during the coming years. An endowment fund, which it needs and should have, seems out of the question at this time. The only source of increased support therefore must be the federations. Facing the relief problems they do, it may be difficult to get them to take additional burdens unless their leaders will recognize clearly the importance of this enterprise. If central fund-raising for national agencies should ever be developed the school will of course have an easier time raising its budget. In the meanwhile the future of the school must become the responsibility of the leaders in Jewish social work since it is they who brought it into existence. Fortunately it has made an admirable and more than satisfactory showing. We who have been working to develop the school feel that we have been amply repaid in its accomplishments and that a satisfactory demonstration has been made. From now on it must be the social workers who should support it by making available to it the necessary funds through federation appropriations, and by employing its graduates and giving them preference whenever possible.

BELIEVES ITS GRADUATES SHOULD GET PREFERENCE

I understand that at a recent national conference a committee recommended that the school’s graduates be given preference. This is no more than fair. For Jewish men and women going to general schools of social work cannot possibly have the preparation or the interest or the claim upon Jewish agencies that graduates of our school have. Nor are they likely to have the loyalty to the Jewish people and the capacity and preparation for leadership so badly needed in Jewish communities. We believe that because of the high standards of the school in the selection and training of its students our graduates more than measure up to those made available by other schools. By attending the Jewish school they have clearly indicated that they are primarily interested in Jewish social work and are preparing themselves to deal with its problems. For these and other reasons I feel that they should be given preference and encouragement.

Thus far the school has had no difficulty in placing its graduates. With the careful and conservative policy of admission and graduation, I do not expect that we shall have any difficulties in the near future. After nine years of existence, with approximately fifty per cent of the school’s graduates going into the agencies of greater New York, the large Jewish agencies connected with the two New York federations still have less than twenty-five per cent of their staffs graduates of schools of social work. In the smaller communities the percentage of trained people is no doubt much smaller. The school can therefore continue to function for a long time before the field will be adequately staffed with trained people.

SERVING BEST INTERESTS OF JEWISH INSTITUTIONS

In view of this I am not afraid that the school will be unable to place its graduates. But I am deeply concerned that Jewish agencies and communities should have available the very best people for positions of leadership that we can get and train. If the graduates of our school will be given the deserved recognition, the school will attract the best Jewish men and women that the colleges and universities have to offer. Social work and Jewish life stand to gain a great deal from this, and Jewish social workers should be the first to realize it. Events throughout the world are such as to require the best qualities of heart and mind on the part of those who are to lead the Jewish communities and are to represent them before the non-Jewish world. We cannot entrust that leadership to those who are not thoroughly identified with the interests of the Jewish people.

I hope that the school will insist upon undivided allegiance to the Jewish people as a requirement for admission and graduation. I for one believe that it should direct its energies along this line for I would rather have loyalty with less technical perfection than the other way round. Fortunately we do not have to make this choice for the school’s graduates have as good technical training as those in non-Jewish schools since they take their technical training in a non-Jewish school. This assures agencies employing our people, that their staffs will have the best technical equipment, plus interest, devotion and loyalty to the Jewish people.

I am eager that the school should continue to improve its work to the maximum that its resources will permit. Jewish social workers and lay leaders can want no less. The school is prepared to do its utmost to continue to serve Jewish social work in the best possible manner. We of the board are prepared to help in every way we can. We feel that the school’s past performances have entitled it to our fullest confidence. It is now up to the Jewish organizations who profited from the past work of the school and will profit from its work in the future. It is also up to the Jewish social workers to do their share. It was at their request that the school was organized and it is they who chieflly profit from its existence. They must show by their support that they want it to continue and function efficiently.