Page Twenty-Four
How Vocational Service
Combats Discrimination
THE JEWISH NEWS
The Outlook for Postwar Immigration
(,
Executive Director
VS Here Helps to Expand Job Opportunities for Jews Of National Refugee
Providing Expert Guidance and Placement Services
Service Views Plans
By M. WILLIAM WEINRERG
Executive Director, Jewish Vocational Service
It is oftimes a difficult job to define the functions of the
aocial service agency in such a way as to satisfy everyone.
This is also true in the case of the Jewish Vocational Service.
Many people would probably agree that one of JVS's basic
aims is to assist Jews in obtaining better economic adjust-
ments by overcoming the barriers they may face because
of their Jewishness. There would0
also be agreement that the major But frequently, Jews, like all
obstacles to complete economic other minority groups, find them-
adjustment are discrimination in selves surrounded by a haze of
employment, on the one hand, stereotyped misconceptions. Jews
and the traditional "narrow oc- have been labeled as "poor me-
cupational choice" of Jews, on chanics—they can not work with
the other hand. But when we their hands." In some cases, this
attempt to examine these bar- kind of stereotype may serve as
riers separately, we realize that a pretext for discrimination; but
we are confronted with the usual in many instances, such stereo-
dilemma of assigning priority to types represent honest, even if
the chicken or the egg.
mistaken, opinions. The JVS
Let us consider a fairly com- holds a strategic position in cor-
mon case. A young high school recting these misconceptions,
graduate registered with the JVS both in the minds of its clients,
for assistance in choosing a ca- and in the attitudes of employ-
reer. He explained that he had ers.
originally planned to 'enroll in
Capitalizing on Gains
an engineering school but had
During the present manpower
been rejected, although he had a shortage, many employers have
high scholastic standing, and an found it necessary to employ
excellent recommendation from workers they may have rejected
his high school principal. The in the pre-war days of "fussy"
school denied that it was prompt- personnel standards. Naturally,
ed by prejudice in refusing ad- the performance of recently
mission to the boy, and stated hired Jewish workers may tend
that it considered that it had an either to strengthen or refute the
obligations to place its graduates old stereotypes, and the com-
upon completion of their courses. pany's first experiences with
Since it was extremely difficult Jewish workers may thus be of
to find openings for Jewish en- vital importance in determining
gineers, the school did not feel their whole future policy toward
that it was "fair" to permit the hiring Jews. The agency can
young man to spend four years capitalize on the gains being
in what might well be fruitless made in these days of wider em-
study.
ployment by careful ref errels
Which Comes First?
and placements, and may do
But this is only one side of the much to dispel erroneous ideas
picture. If various engineering of "racial characteristics"—thus,
firms are asked, "Why so few for example, the success of refu-
Jewish employes?" it is almost gee placements has cut down the
certain that one of the replies strength of anti-alien attitudes.
would be, "We hardly ever re-
Significant Function
ceive applications from Jews."
Placement of the Jewish work-
Variation'S
--Cifir—Hclosed - er may be only the first step.
circle"- theme can be found over •The Jew's fellow employes also
and over again. The Jewish job- hold the common stereotypes and
seeker hears the tale repeated, generalized • misconceptions, and
"Banks (or utilities, or insurance here too, the agency has a signifi-
companies, or . .) do not hire cant function. Jewish workers
Jews," and so he decides that he are going into certain occupa-
will not try to break his head tions for the first time; they may
against the inevitable. At the be unfamiliar with established
same time, the few banks or practices and everyday routines;
utilities or insurance companies they may be subjected to "haz-
which might not discriminate ing" by their fellow workers.
find that there are few trained The JVS provides the on-the-
Jewish applicants, and come to job guidance which helps the in-
feel that Jews as a whole are dividual in adjusting to his job,
either uninterested, or unsuit- and in fitting in with the work
able, for the type of employment patterns of other employes.
they have to offer.
The JVS cannot eliminate dis-
What can the Jewish Voca- crimination, nor prescribe a
tional Service do to solve this single, simple solution for this
dilemma?
complex set of problems. Never-
Breaking the Wall
theless, a professional counsel-
One of the first JVS axioms ing and placement service can
is to "broaden the occupational make a distinct contribution to
horizon" of its clients. The client the goal of "equality of oppor-
may explore openings in occupa- tunity." The core of the agency
tions and industries which he program can be stated as "The
had previously dismissed as be- right man for the right job." The
ing "beyond closed doors." Thus agency does not ask employers
he may discover an unexpected to hire Jews en masse; nor does
channel for the development of it ask that a "proportionate
his interests and abilities. At the quota" of jobs be given to Jews.
same time, the JVS is able to ex- It does seek, however, to place
pand the areas of economic free- qualified applicants in accord-
dom for Jews by establishing ance with their best abilities.
close working relationships with
Similarly, the essence of a
employers in industries previous- democratic attitude toward em-
ly considered "not suited" for ployment can be described as
Jewish workers.
"Opportunity in/ accordance with
Obviously, the JVS can do lit- individual merit." Therefore, as
tle to counteract the virus of the JVS carries forward its own
blind prejudice, nor can it meet program, it also extends the
the carping objections of con- basic principles of flair employ-
firmed anti-Semitic employers. ment practices.
Friday, April 27, 1945
Editor's Note—Mr. Beck traces the,
development of our national immi-"'
"ration policy, views the possibilities
for postwar immigration, and under-
lines the role of the National Refugee
Service in aiding the newcomer. The
NRS deriVes its Detroit support from
the Allied Jewish Campaign, through
the War Chest.
By JOSEPH E. BECK
Executive Director
National Refugee Service, Inc.
The right of asylum, by which
a nation offers its hospitality
and protection to the political
and religious refugees of another
nation, remains one of the finest
of American traditions. Again
and again, our statesmen have
acclaimed it. For example, the
words of Thomas Jefferson's in-
augural address, in 1801:
". . . And shall we refuse the
unhappy fugitives from distress
that hospitality which the sav-
ages of the wilderness extended
to our fathers arriving in this
land? Shall ovpressed humanity
find no asylum on this globe?"
Wilson's Veto Message
The veto message of President
Wilson, when he returned an
immigration bill to Congress in
.1915, contained these words: .
"This bill embodies a radical
departure from the traditional
and long-established policy of
this country, a policy in which
our people have conceived the
very character of their govern-
ment, to be expressed . . . It
seeks to all but close the gates
of asylum which have always
been open."
The late President Roosevelt
reaffirmed this American tra-
dition repeatedly and whole-.
heartedly, and there appears to
be good reason for belief that
President Truman will continue
his policies. In a letter' to the
president of the NRS in 1941,
Mr. Roosevelt wrote:
"Every American must be
proud that throughout these
troubled years our country has
held fast to its tradition of pro-
viding a haven of refuge for
those who had to flee from other
lands.. It is necessary today,
more than ever • before; that This
tradition of asylum be main-
tained."
300,000 Absorbed in U. S.
The striking fact that almost
300,000 refugees from Tlitlerism
have been successfully absorbed
into our economic and social life
during the past decade is sub-
stantial evidence that this tra-
dition is • very much alive. Most
recent expression of this faith
in the American tradition of
asylum was Attorney General
Biddle's statement (March 5,
1944):
"In the years to come, par-
tictilarly in those immediate
years after the enemy is beaten
and the sad countries of Europe
lift their eyes to the West, I
suggest that we must not shut
our doors to the needs of our
fellow men . .. I do not believe
it would be wise, let alone gen-
erous, to cut off all immigration
as soon as the war is over."
Policy Changes After War I.
The immigration policy of our
country has, however, greatly
changed in character from the
years before the first World
War. Between 1850 and 1930,
more than 35 million men, wom-
en and children poured into the
U. S. The immigrants sought
opportunities here denied them
at home. In turn, they contrib-
uted their energy, skill and en-
,
JOSEPH E. BECK
terprise to the development of
their adopted country.
The Immigration Act of Feb-
ruary 5, 1917, together with the
Immigration Act of 1924, con-
stitute the keystone of present
American policy. Under the Im-
migration Act of 1924, a total of
153,774 quota immigrants may
be admitted to the U. S. in any
one year. The 1924 legislation
based quotas for each nationali-
ty group on the census of 1890,
thereby, in effect, discriminating
against immigration from East-
ern and Southern Europe. Im-
migrants from Northern and
Western Europe enjoyed more
generous quotas.
Flexible Policy Suggested
The present quota system of
regulating migration has come
in for criticism on account of
its relative inflexibility. The ca-
pacity of our labor market to
absorb new workers, it has been
pointed out, is quite variable
and fluctuates between the ex-
tremes of labor surplus and la-
bor shortage. A more flexible
type of quota regulations, as
suggested by some students,
would• enable us to meet chang-
ing situations. Thus, an immi-
gration deficit incurred in the
quota of any one year might be
compensated by the temporary
enlargement of quotas for later
years.
An immigration policy - with
quotas could be based not only
on countries of origin, but also
on the occupation and skills of
the immigrant. A non-quota
status, or preferential status,
could be accorded to certain
professions and extended to
other groups as the need arose.
Postwar Immigration
In considering the possibilities
of postwar immigration, one
must bear in mind that even
within the lithits fixed by pres-
ent quota provisions, the U. S.
is potentially one of the largest
refugee havens . in the world.
The figures of the Immigration
and Naturalization Service indi-
cate that for the whole period
of the last 12 years, immigrants
from all countries charged to the
quota have numbered 310,496, a
figure which would just about
fill the quota allowance for two
years only (the annual quota
for all countries, as indicated
above, being 153,774).
If the full quotas had been
Chaplain Gordon Describes Unique
Sedorim in Liberated Philippines
Mr. and Mrs. Abe Gordon of
Webb Ave. - have received a
touching letter from their son,
Chaplain Albert A. Gordon, who
is stationed in Manila.
"I want to tell you about the
wonderful Seder we had here
and about the most unique Seder
which was conducted in the front
lines on the second night. The
first Seder was attended by
3,000 men. What a moving
spectacle to see such a huge
throng assembled to observe the
Passover. It was the most thrill-
ing service I have ever con-
ducted," he writes.
"In addition to the service-
men, we had several hundred
civilians whose presence lent ad-
ded significance and meaning.
For them it was really a festival
of liberation.
"Preparations and provisions
had already been sent up for the
Seder, but this time . there were
only 150 men. present. This, too,
was a Seder -1 shall never forget.
These men had just come ir from
the firing line and you can well
imagine what the service and
fine meal meant to them.. It is
needless to say there were no
dry eyes around that Seder
table."
See Pages 6, 21 and 22 for
Additional ServIcenlif: News
Program to Facilitate
Economic Adjustment
Of Newcomers Told
filled the number of immigrants'
entitled to enter would have
amounted to 1,845,288. The larg- •
er group of postwar immigrants
it is anticipated, probably will
be close relatives of earlier
arrivals during the past decade,
and will come here hoping to
be reunited with members of
their. families.
NRS Aids the Newcomer
We no longer pursue a policy
of laissez-faire with regard to
the welfare and adjustment of
newcomers as in the days when
immigrants streamed in by the
million. The NRS which con-
ducts its work in strict com-
pliance with existing immigra-
tion laws and regulations, has
worked out a complete program
of refugee immigrant aid andi
adjustment, resulting in the
orderly and progressive absorp-
tion of the newcomers.
To facilitate the refugees' eco-
nomic adjustment in terms of -I
his particular skill and past
training, and without displacing:
American workers, the agency
engages in a well-knit and
broadly planned program oil
services, including employment,i
vocational retraining, and busi-
ness loans for non-competitive
self-support enterprises.
Through its resettlement pro-
gram the agency aims to trans- :
fer the refugees from the port- :
of-entry to more suitable areas.'
This is based on two principal
ideas: first, to prevent "refugee
colonies"; secondly, to effect the
distribution of the newcomers:
in accordance with their skills
and capacities, and the locall,
possibilities of economic absorp-
tion.
Special NRS Groups
Coupled with this effort, par- .
titular attention is devoted to
the problems of specialized
groups. Special NRS committees ,
made up of people of experience ,
in their own fields coordinate.
their efforts to deal with the ,
problems of the various groups- -
of scholars,- scientists, artists,
writers, teachers, whose profes-
sional skills can be utilized in
America. Outstanding American ,
medical men lend their willing !
efforts to aid in establishing;
practices for refugee physicians
in towns and rural areas where
doctors are urgently needed.
Retraining serves as yet an-
other example of the planned
program carried out by the
NRS to help the newcomer take
care of himself. Many refugees
who cannot hope to earn their
livelihoods in former occupations
have been retrained for other
fields.
The structure of refugee aid
services, with the National
Refugee Service as a hub, radi-
ates into all parts of the country,
constituting what is undoubted-
ly the greatest organized Ameri-
can effort dealing with immi-
grant newcomers. With 900 co-
operating committees and pro-
fessional organizations, the Na-
tional Refugee Service repre-
sents an accumulated body of
experience and techniques not
easily replaced or improvised,
for coping with the problems
of refugee immigration.
Sgt. S. Katser Gets
2nd Bronze Cluster
15TH AAF IN ITALY — Sgt.
Sol Katser, son of Mrs. B. Kaiser,
10300 Dexter, Detroit, radio me-
chanic with a B-24 Liberator
squadron, is authorized to wear
a second bronze cluster with his
Distinguished Unit Badge as a
ground member of the veteran
451st Bombardment Group (H).
Katser arrived in the Mediter-
ranean theater in December,
1943, with his present Liberator
group.
Sgt. Katser, a graduate of De-
troit Junior College, entered the
army on Oct. 21, 1942. He re-
ceived technical training at
Traux Field, Wisc.