28o 
EMPLOYMENT PSYCHOLOGY 
open, regardless of the fact that other students may have 
entered the school at an earlier time. 
This method also provides an element of competition 
which is a very healthy asset to the work of novices. It is a 
well-known psychological fact that a few minutes of 
actual competition daily will do more to increase a per 
son’s ability than hours of steady and uninspired rou 
tine practice. Competition, therefore, contributes toward 
making the new employee competent with the least possi 
ble delay, and serves to bring out all the more quickly 
whatever latent moral qualities the pupil may have in 
reserve. 
The work of the vestibule school should be so far as 
possible work that is actually taken over from the main 
office. For instance, girls who are being trained in typing 
or in filing should be trained largely upon the work of 
typing or filing as it is actually being done in the larger 
office for which they are being prepared. In this way, not 
only will the preparation of the individuals be most 
closely tied up with their prospective duties, but at the 
same time a considerable saving in the cost of conducting 
the school will be effected. 
In order to attain the maximum effectiveness, the in 
structors of the vestibule school should be clerks of a high 
grade who have not only had actual experience in the 
routine which they are to teach but who also possess the 
ability to impart their knowledge to their pupils. An in 
structor in every distinct type of work ought to be pro 
vided. The manager of such a school must be a man or 
woman of exceptional character, ability, and experience. 
He should be, first of all, a good employment manager with 
the necessary ability to examine and select applicants. 
Even if this selection is controlled by means of a specialist