84
A Study of Student Loans and
these views are no doubt justified. Conditions differ in the various institutions.
The fact remains, however, that many students do outside work
and a large proportion of these could not remain in College if such
remunerative activities were not found. The question, then, is not whether
work is beneficial or harmful to the Student, but how much work can and
should be done. How can self-help be better managed, how can it be
fitted into personal economics and the financial policies of higher education
and to what extent can loans relieve the Situation?
Management of Self-Help
In the management of self-help, the student’s welfare should be held
foremost. His health and mental capacity have to be kept in mind.
There is no doubt that a large number of students are able to carry outside
work and do full justice to their studies at the same time; others
require the full time for their studies; while still others can go through
with a full academic program, support themselves, and even take part
in extra-curricula activities. It depends upon the individual. The
extent to which the Student relies upon self-help must also be taken into
consideration. An analysis of the Situation along these lines would
improve conditions.
It is well to aim at a proper balance between all the factors. These
factors are the Student, his academic program, his health, and the amount
and kind of work open to him. If it is possible for the Student to find
work that contains an element of recreation for him, then a part of the
time which rightfully belongs to recreation can be given to self-help.
It is rather dangerous for a man to support himself entirely in College;
something is likely to suffer; either his studies or his health. 4 '
However, some odd job would perhaps be good for all students with
an average intellectual aptitude, but it is difficult to defend the view held
that students should do outside work regardless of financial need. This
deprives those who are in need of the work. Students who have sufficient
funds can well use their time more profitably. There are other things
they can do to improve their future—browse through books, cultivate
a beneficial hobby,—even intellectual loafing may be of benefit to themselves
and society. If an institution has a sufficiently high intellectual
Standard, the students will be properly equipped and guided to use their
time more profitably than doing the work which they are generally
able to get. In the administration of self-help, therefore, the above
factors should be taken into consideration both for the benefits of the
students who must resort to self-help and for those who do not. *
47 C. F. Thwing, “Lending Money to College Students”, Nation, September 7, 1918.
