J. Adams Puffer

              Figure

J. ADAMS PUFFER. Worker with Boys   Author   Lecturer

Lectures for Luncheon Clubs and Chambers of Commerce.

Fatherhood a Profession.
Co-operation of School and Home.
The Clever Use of Leisure Time.
The Boy and His Life Career.
Office Work and Salesmanship.
The Right Attitude toward Hard Work.

BEACON BOYS' BUREAU
8 Beacon Street
Boston, Massachusetts




J. ADAMS PUFFER.

Inheritance and Education.
The boy was born in Harrington, Maine, of two good, healthy, ambitious parents, both of whom were pioneers in education,—the mother a teacher for ten years, the father a teacher for thirty years.  True to his inheritance the young man, at the age of eighteen, began to teach in the country schools of his home town.  Inspired by his parents, the boy sought for an education and in ten years worked his way through Kents Hill Seminary, Wesleyan University, and Boston University.  Later he studied under G. Stanley Hall at Clark University, and still later at the University of Illinois.



Author and Editor.
While at Clark University he published his first study of boys in the Pedagogical Seminary (June, 1905). This was later rewritten into his best known book The Boy and His Gang (Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston).  This book has become one of the authoritative sources in boy sociology.  It is now twelve years old, has steadily increased in circulation and can be found in nearly every Public Library.  Later he wrote the book for teachers, Vocational Guidance, which was a pioneer book in the field and has been adopted in many states for the Teachers' Reading Courses.  This was the first of a series of books on Vocational Guidance of which he is the editor.


Vocational Guidance for Profession
Vocational Guidance for Girls
Vocational Reader
Vocational Guidance
Edwin Tenney Brewster.
Marguerite Stockman Dickson.
Park Pressey.
J. Adams Puffer.

This series is published by Rand McNally & Co., of Chicago.

All of these books have found distinct service in a wide circulation.



Home and Education.
While in Industrial School Work he found for a partner in home-making, Miss E. Hope Rice of Berlin, Mass., a teacher of ten years' experience.  Today there are in this home four ambitious children in college and high school.  Much of the lecturer's education has been obtained in trying to make a good home.



Work and Education.
After graduating from Boston University, the young man went to work in a mission field on the coast of Maine, but he soon returned to teaching and became Principal of the High School, Richmond, Me., and later Principal of Schools in the Massachusetts Industrial School (350 boys), Westboro, Mass.  Later he worked as a Probation Officer of the Boston Juvenile Court.  For five summers he has camped with boys.  For fifteen years he has taught a Sunday School class of young men.  During the war he was a Vocational Secretary in the Camps of the Southwest.  For ten years he has been engaged in lecture work in Forums, Chautauquas, Teachers' Institutes, Normal Schools and Universities.



Some of His Lecture Work.

15 State Teachers' Associations.
17 Dist. State Teachers' Associations.
36 State Universities.
42 State Normal Schools.
85 County Teachers' Institutes (Weeks).
200 City Teachers' Institutes.
200 Rotary, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs.
1000 High Schools, Junior and Senior.





THE LECTURES.

The Boy and His Gang.
(A Forum Address)
This lecture is based on the study of sixty-six gangs of which records were kept in the Lyman School for Boys.  These stories furnish the basic material for an original source book on real boy life.  The subject-matter of the lecture and the spirit of the lecturer are found in The Boy and His Gang.  Ask for the book at your library.



Fatherhood a Profession.
(An After-Dinner Talk)
The gospel of companionship between father and son is presented to an audience in a unique manner.  The lecturer tells the story of a day's visit in the home of one of his associate workers who was a real chum and pal of his boys.  He received the boys in his study, gave them first place in his attention, answered their questions positively, went scouting, swimming, boating and fishing with them.  The unexpected doings of this original chum father cause many bursts of laughter, but the message is not lost in the good cheer.



The Boy and His Life Career.
(High School and Commencement Address)
This lecture is based on the unpublished study of the Vocational Choices of 1000 High School Students, and 1000 College and Business Men.  The safe methods of helping youths to find their right places in the work-a-day world are presented.  Reading the early lives of successful men and women, talking with MANY counselors, making a careful survey of talents in the family, and getting the widest possible experience are the methods recommended and illustrated with apt stories.



The Boy and His Life Career.
(High School and Commencement Address)
The larger vocations which women enter are studied from the standpoint of home-making.  Health conditions, training, social standing and moral conditions are considered in relation to motherhood.  Too few girls are taught to think clear through a well-equipped, well-balanced and successful life carreer.  The plan of a big and complete life,—education, training, vocation, home-making and again vocation are presented.



The Right Attitude toward Hard Work.
(Talk for High Schools, Normal Schools, Universities)
A discussion of the fundamental habits which are valuable in any vocation and in the building of a successful life.  The habits studied are,—Accuracy, Attention, Cheerfulness, Honesty and Reverence.  Each habit is illustrated by a story which has come under the observation of the speaker.  References,—Superintendents and Principals of Schools can be given in your state.



Co-operation of School and Home.
(Talk for Mothers' Clubs and Parent-Teacher Associations)
The danger period for boys and girls is in their leisure time.  This lecture is a study of the methods which homes and schools can adopt to keep children busy and out of mischief.  Universal physical training, more shop work, more home study, boys' and girls' club work and Boy and Girl Scouting are recommended.



The Problem of Moral Education.
(A Forum Address)
Can religious training be given in the public schools?  Can religious and moral training be given separately?  Can a system of MANNERS and MORALS be developed which will approximate in value religious moral training?  What are the most fundamental MORAL HABITS needed in America?  These are some of the problems presented.  This lecture was first given at the Florida Forum (Jan., 1925), Daytona Beach.—Mr. Robert S. Holmes is Director.





Varied Viewpoints from Massachusetts to Washington.

Massachusetts.
An unique and unusually interesting talk was enjoyed by the members of the Newton (Mass.) Rotary Club when J. Adams Puffer, a recognized authority on boy problems, discussed Fatherhood as a Profession.—Newton Progress.



Connecticut.
Joint Luncheon of Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Exchange, Civitans, of Bridgeport.  Mr. Puffer rendered a distinct service to our city through our civic clubs.  The speaker knows how to drive home his message with deep good cheer.

Lewis M. Pawlett, Secretary of Rotary.



Pennsylvania.
After Mr. Puffer's talk on How to Help Boys to Find Their Right Places more than half of the Senior High School boys, and a large number of the Rotary men, remained to ask questions about their sons' careers.

Wm. A. Davis, Principal of High School, Easton.



Ohio.
The High School folks of this period need exactly this kind of talk on The Right Attitude toward Work.—Supt. M. M. Williams, Grand View Heights, Columbus.



Michigan.
We had the pleasure of hearing J. Adams Puffer of Boston, talk to us.  It was not a speech but a real inspiring talk that brought something to us all.

W. M. Lewis, President of Rotary, Muskegon.



Illinois.
Fatherhood a Profession is a happy mixture of wit and humour, together with a world of good, old-fashioned, common sense.

L. J. Wilmot, Secretary of Rotary, Waukegan.



Wisconsin.
Fatherhood as a Profession is one of the most timely addresses and should be given to all the clubs of the country.

J. A. Holmes, Gov. of Lions, Appleton.



Iowa.
The Right Attitude toward Hard Work for High School students is a masterpiece of humour, helpful suggestions and wholesome advice and encouragement.

F. T. Vasey, Supt. of Schools, Mason City.



Florida.
Mr. Puffer chose for his Forum Address a topic vital in the educational world, Moral Education in our Schools.  He proved himself an authority on the problems of adolescence.—Florida Forum, Daytona Beach, Mr. Robert S. Holmes, Director.



Kentucky.
The speaker has an unusually effective way of putting ideas over.  Our students received the inspiration for greater effort.

Cloyd N. McAlester, Director of Summer School, Berea.



Arkansas.
Mr. Puffer, the Boy Man, has just completed a two weeks' lecture course in Little Rock.  His talks in the schools, civic clubs and parent-teacher associations have helped us to interest men in boys and boys in themselves.

T. J. Craighead, Supt. of Little Rock Boys' Club.



Texas.
We had very great pleasure and profit in the stirring and practical work which Mr. Puffer gave us in the Southwest Texas Institute (2000 teachers).

Jeremiah Rhodes, Supt. of Schools, San Antonio.



Colorado.
I do not know a man in this country more completely equipped to deal with Boy Problems.

Ben. B. Lindsey, Judge of Juvenile Court, Denver.



Washington.
Mr. Puffer understands what High School boys and girls are thinking about, in what subjects they are hungry for instruction and speaks with clearness and force that wins an instant appeal.

Henry M. Hart, Prin. of Lewis and Clark High School, Spokane.