Question

RE: What do you think was the best thing about the CCC experience?

AE: The chance for learning. You see most of the people that went in there had dropped out of school. And they were just allowed to roam the street. Which was bad-that'd get you in a heap of trouble. It kind of geve them a chance to get their feet on the ground. So they could learn if they wanted to, which most of them did. It was actually the best thing that ever happened to kids our age at that time. Because you actually earned your way in it. They learned to do so many different things. Like, nobody wants to use a shovel, I don't believe. But they had to learn to use a shovel, and everybody learned something
. - from an interview with Arthur Emory, former CCC employee, 1998

How might this employee's experiences and personal biases have shaped his views toward the benefits of working for the CCC?

Answer 1

Arthur Emory's views on the CCC were shaped by the educational and work opportunities the program provided to young men during the Great Depression, reflecting a positive bias based on his personal experience. He praises the practical skills and economic support offered by the CCC but may overlook the program's challenges and its exclusionary practices.

Step-by-step explanation:

The experiences and personal biases of Arthur Emory, a former CCC employee, shaped his views on the benefits of the program by providing a positive outlook on the CCC's educational opportunities and work experience. Having been part of a demographic that commonly dropped out of school and faced limited options, Emory highlights the CCC’s role as a pivotal chance for young men to learn practical skills, get their education, and earn money in a structured environment. The CCC was seen as a life-changing opportunity for many of its participants, offering valuable lessons and economic support during the hardship of the Great Depression.

According to Emory, the program gave young men a sense of direction and taught them work ethic, skills like using a shovel, and provided them with an income. However, his perspective might overlook the hardships faced by the participants, including tough physical labor and separation from family, while also not addressing the societal issues of the time, such as racial segregation within the CCC camps and the exclusion of women from these types of government jobs.