DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 2 of 2) | 1950-02-09 Burlington Hawkeye Gazette Article: "Thinking Out Loud"

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Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 2 of 2)

1950-02-09 Burlington Hawkeye Gazette Article: "Thinking Out Loud"

4 Burlington, Ia. Hawk-Eye Gazette . . Thurs., Feb. 9, 1950

Thinking Out Loud
THE COMMUNITY SELF-SURVEY--AND WHY
The writer of this column has been laid low by a cold and gladly yields this space today to a statement by a local committee representing the proposed Self-Survey
***
The reason a businessman chooses to do something or not to do something makes up a substantial literature in this country. The newspapers and magazines add to this mass of opinion every day, and all of these words are written with a single fundamental purpose in mind.
The reasons should, according to this literature, all spring from the same soil: efficient operation.
The Community Self-Survey is based on the same principle, although it deals with human relations rather than the manufacture and exchange of goods. The Self-Survey is an idea to accomplish the same efficiency in the operation of a city that a manager seeks in the operation of an office.
The businessman must know where he stands in regard to his customers in the same way a city must know where it stands in regard to its citizens. A businessman must understand the workings of his business; a city must strive to understand the relationship between the people who populate it.
The analogy can be carried further: The corporation sends its field men out to keep constant watch on the progress of the organization; the city utilizes a self-survey to do the same.
If the business of a corporation is good, that is no reason the corporation should relax its supervision; if the relations between people of a city are good, that is no reason the city should remain unaware of the fact.
If things aren't good, then the answer is obvious: Find out why.
It seems evident that, practically speaking, the Self-Survey is justified. 
The Self-Survey does not assume that a problem exists. The Self-Survey does not assume that a problem does not exist. The Self-Survey proceeds from the idea that the city should know, regardless of the condition.
From the point of view of the "ideal," the Self-Survey would seem to be more than justifiable, it would seem to be a positive requirement of elementary social knowledge.
A government bases its strength on certain essential beliefs. American government bases its strength on the unified American belief in equal justice, equal opportunity, and equal liberty. To strengthen these foundations the American government must know and understand, not only their meaning, but their popular acceptance.
The Self-Survey is a way to this understanding. It is a method of interpreting the actions, ideas, relationships and attitudes of people.
If, as some people believe, there is no problem, then the Self Survey can do no harm. For if there is no problem--if there is no injustice, no inequality, no unfairness--then we have achieved perfection and should be aware of it.
If there is some injustice, some inequality, some unfairness, then it is necessary, if we are to act according to our beliefs, to see it, understand it, and remedy it.
The Self-Survey limits itself to one simple task: that of discovering the conditions as they exist. From that point on it is the work of the city as a whole.
The Self-Survey is a study, not intended to condemn or intimidate or force. It is an investigation that takes upon itself the effort of investigation--and nothing more.It has as its goal the presentation of its findings to the community, with no program of change in mind. The changes are left if they are needed, to the community.
The only assumption made by the Self-Survey is that a democratic society is not only able, but willing to accept truth, be it complimentary, embarrassing or otherwise. The Self-Survey believes in the strength of public opinion and the strength of fundamental human decency.
If there is a problem, the Self-Survey leaves the solution to these 2 forces.

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4 Burlington, Ia. Hawk-Eye Gazette . . Thurs., Feb. 9, 1950 Thinking Out Loud THE COMMUNITY SELF-SURVEY--AND WHY The writer of this column has been laid low by a cold and gladly yields this space today to a statement by a local committee representing the proposed Self-Survey *** The reason a businessman chooses to do something or not to do something makes up a substantial literature in this country. The newspapers and magazines add to this mass of opinion every day, and all of these words are written with a single fundamental purpose in mind. The reasons should, according to this literature, all spring from the same soil: efficient operation. The Community Self-Survey is based on the same principle, although it deals with human relations rather than the manufacture and exchange of goods. The Self-Survey is an idea to accomplish the same efficiency in the operation of a city that a manager seeks in the operation of an office. The businessman must know where he stands in regard to his customers in the same way a city must know where it stands in regard to its citizens. A businessman must understand the workings of his business; a city must strive to understand the relationship between the people who populate it. The analogy can be carried further: The corporation sends its field men out to keep constant watch on the progress of the organization; the city utilizes a self-survey to do the same. If the business of a corporation is good, that is no reason the corporation should relax its supervision; if the relations between people of a city are good, that is no reason the city should remain unaware of the fact. If things aren't good, then the answer is obvious: Find out why. It seems evident that, practically speaking, the Self-Survey is justified. The Self-Survey does not assume that a problem exists. The Self-Survey does not assume that a problem does not exist. The Self-Survey proceeds from the idea that the city should know, regardless of the condition. From the point of view of the "ideal," the Self-Survey would seem to be more than justifiable, it would seem to be a positive requirement of elementary social knowledge. A government bases its strength on certain essential beliefs. American government bases its strength on the unified American belief in equal justice, equal opportunity, and equal liberty. To strengthen these foundations the American government must know and understand, not only their meaning, but their popular acceptance. The Self-Survey is a way to this understanding. It is a method of interpreting the actions, ideas, relationships and attitudes of people. If, as some people believe, there is no problem, then the Self Survey can do no harm. For if there is no problem--if there is no injustice, no inequality, no unfairness--then we have achieved perfection and should be aware of it. If there is some injustice, some inequality, some unfairness, then it is necessary, if we are to act according to our beliefs, to see it, understand it, and remedy it. The Self-Survey limits itself to one simple task: that of discovering the conditions as they exist. From that point on it is the work of the city as a whole. The Self-Survey is a study, not intended to condemn or intimidate or force. It is an investigation that takes upon itself the effort of investigation--and nothing more.It has as its goal the presentation of its findings to the community, with no program of change in mind. The changes are left if they are needed, to the community. The only assumption made by the Self-Survey is that a democratic society is not only able, but willing to accept truth, be it complimentary, embarrassing or otherwise. The Self-Survey believes in the strength of public opinion and the strength of fundamental human decency. If there is a problem, the Self-Survey leaves the solution to these 2 forces.