He smiled. "I wouldn't predict success for anyone today. There is little doubt that a trained person's prospects are better than those of one less skilled. But many of my friends who planned to become doctors have become business men, many lawyers are becoming policemen and firemen, many teachers are clerks in department stores. I know one fellow who has been working in industry for twenty years. Now he's looking for a new job, because a machine has been invented to do what he did. Another man I know has gone out of business because the gadget he manufactured has gone out of style.

"You see, Edith, 'The old order changeth, yielding place to new.' That's why our school does its utmost to give you a broad education with training in many different fields." Slowly Edith was beginning to realize that there is more to education than she had been aware of. As she entered the room to keep her appointment with Miss Carter, she saw a collegiate-looking young man standing by the side of the desk. Miss Carter introduced him as Philip Barnes, a former student, who was now attending the College of the City of New York.

"Remember, Miss Carter," said Philip, "how much time I used to spend preparing programs for the History Club, when I was here in school? And how much pleasure I got out of the debating and baseball teams? Well, I'm doing the same thing at college. Do you know, I sometimes think that these after-school clubs and teams mean as much to me as the subjects I study. The fellows I meet, the discussions we have, the lecturers we invite to speak to us, the places we visit, all these help to give me a better slant on things.

"Just the other day it occurred to me that we are getting a good share of our education outside of our regular classes. We had a speaker last week who set me to thinking. He said that the radio, the movies, the newspapers we read may play a very influential part in our lives, because they try to make us think what they want us to think, rather than let us think for ourselves. I see now how many of my ideas are affected by my family, my friends, my church, and my teachers. Do you know, I'm just beginning to realize what a big job the schools have when they try to give us a sound education."

Miss Carter smiled her appreciation. "I wish more people would realize that the school is not the only agency which educates! Perhaps those persons are wrong when they say that the school is to blame for everything that goes wrong in the world." Then turning to Edith, she said: "In Philip you have a fine example of how much New York City is doing for its youth. He has gone from elementary school, through high school and through college without having to pay at all. He was interested in law, and so he took a general course in high school. If he had wished to study in other fields, courses in commerce, in technical subjects such as aeronautics or auto-mechanics, and even in farming would have been open to him. If he had been talented in music, art, or science, special schools would have been ready to help develop his skill.

"There are many people, Edith, who are not aware that our free colleges, C.C.N.Y., Hunter, Brooklyn, and Queens, provide free training in almost all these fields. The city wants its instruction to be 'tops.' That's why all teachers it employs are required to pass difficult examinations." Edith turned to Philip. "Are you glad that you decided to become a lawyer?"

"Indeed I am," was his reply. "After all, I didn't rush into this thing blindly. This high school gave me many opportunities to decide what I wanted to do in life. It was the Guidance Department which first explained to me the problems of each profession and of the business world. I learned more about them in my social studies classes. I gained a good deal of experience in public speaking in the history and debating clubs. Many of the speakers in our assemblies: political leaders, famous writers, and clergymen helped to determine my choice. One evening at a meeting of the Parent-Teachers Council my mother had a talk with Miss Carter which helped to win her over to my choice of career."

"But isn't it true that thousands of lawyers are out of work today?" asked Edith. "That's far too true. But, after all, these are difficult times. Perhaps after my graduation I'll have to be satisfied with even a factory job for a while. Soon I think we'll all learn to pull together and lick this depression. Then I'll hang out my shingle: Philip Barnes, Attorney At Law!"

""That's the spirit, Phil!" exclaimed Miss Carter. "It's intelligent citizens like you who are going to win democracy's battles. We need thoughtful people to cast intelligent votes for capable office-holders. In all history there never was greater need to make democracy work than there is today.

"There are small groups all over the country who are preaching the overthrow of democracy and the substitution of dictatorship. Our first line of defense must be the schools. Its the schools that can make Americans appreciate early in life the blessings of individual freedom, the joy of living under a government that is made up of the people, that is ruled by the people, and that is governing for the benefit of all the people, not merely to enrich a small group. It's the schools that are going to produce citizens who, detecting flaws in living conditions, are going to dedicate their lives to making democracy above reproach!"

Both Edith and Philip were inspired by what Miss Carter had said. Edith, especially moved, said: "I shall always be grateful to you, Miss Carter, for persuading me to stay in school. Today has taught me that education is the most important thing in the world to me right now."