Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-17
VOCATIONAL TRAINING A NECESSITY

ING A NECESSITY
ing may be introduced into our schools
without serious ditficuIty when we once
realize its importance and wage a cam
paign of education among the people OF
the nation. 1t is essential that the
high school extend and redirect it's
activities because or the relatively
small proportion of the school popula-
ton which now patronizes these insti-
tutions and because OF the need OF CIV
ing added efficiency to the boys anu
girls who will have TO earn their liv-
ing in the future and who must OF
necessity be competent TO carry on the
arts and industries of the nation on a
basis quite superior to that of the pres
ent generation. 1t is necessary that
vocational training become a feature
of the secondary school so that a part
OF the frightful waste now observed
may be avoided and the raw products
of our country manufactured at home.
thus giving profitable employment to
our people.
IL will then be a comparatively simple
matter to provide for a rapid increase
in population and develop that proficiency
in American art and industry which will
place our standards of excellence far
above that of any other civilized nation.
The task is prodigious but Longfellow has
aptly said:
Let us then be up and doing
With heart for any fate,
sun achieving. still pursuing.
Learn TO labor and to wait"
The above constitutes an admirable
sentiment for our emulation, and should
be an incentive to great achievements. In
view of what Holland, Denmark and Bel
GUN have accomplished already and be-
cause of the strife of industry which
our intimate association with the people
of the Vorld has engendered a nation
wide movement for the Inauguration of
industrial training in our secondary
schools becomes one of the greatest is
sues before the present generation.
The following letter is published at the
suggestiOh of the Georgia Federation of
woInens clubs who have inaugurated
a campaign TO secure from the coming
legislature an appropriation of $500 for
extension work for women in the rural
districts along the lines now in progress
for the bepefit of the men. 1t is believed
the farm home will gladly support this
measure:
ATLANTA, Ga, May O. 1910.
Ny Dear Sir: The Georgia Federation of
women's clubs is intensely interested In
the extension movement inaugurated by
the State College OF Agriculture for adult
farmers of the state through an appro-
priatioE made at the last session of the
legislature The results secured from the
itinerant or travelling schools are no
doubt familiar TO you. They have been
most successful. and show that the farm
er Is In a receptive frame OF mind. At the
Is schools held up to date the average
registration has been 20. and the total
attendance for the 100 sessions, 5000. In
these schools problems fundamental to
the success of the farmer have been
discpsseo in so acceptable a manner that
the suggestions are now being put into
practice with most beneficial results by
the farmers i'm the several communities
visited. No plan has ever been devised
Which promises to be of greater service
to the farmer who cannot attend college
than that OF bringing essential informa-
ION to him through extension teaching.
We believe that this movement is des-
tired to revolutionize the agricultural
practice of Georgia because IL Is a cheap
and efficient method of putting vital
knowledge within the reach of all who
till the land But are not the problems
of the housekeeper. the home and the
health OF the people asiimportant as those
of the farmers. and is II proper that these
subjects should be neglected? We be-
lieve that domestic science, home santa
ton nursing and other topics OF funda-
mental Importance could and should be
discussed at meetings arranged especially
for women in conjunction with the timer
ant schools Since the schools will be
organized anyway. the cost OF advertis-
ing and including work OF special interest
TO women should be comparatively slight.
The dement's TO be conferred are meal
culable.
Probably you do not realize that therc
are 10000 deaths in the United States
each year. OF which at least one-half are
preventable: sickness afiicts 100000
homes all the time. thus discommoding
the affairs of 25O0O.OOO people. Think of
the enormous and useless waste here
entailed. Illustration after Illustration
might be cited to justify our position, but
surely il IS unnecessary with one so
broad-minded and thoroughly Interested
In the welfare and uplirt of our state.
We have consulted with the authorities
of the State College of Agriculture COIL
corning this matter and they say that
the present appropriation Tor extension
teaching is so limited that they cannot
undertake additional work since they are
unable to reach and serve the communi-
ties petitioning for assistance at this
time. They will. however. gladly under
take the work were an appropriation
made for this purpose. and we ask you
in the name of the women of Georgia
TO support an appropriation Of 5000 a
year 10 the State College of Agriculture
for extension work with women.
We could hardly ask for a more modes.
sum. We know that IL will be paid back
with interest a thousand fold the first
year and that il will exert an influence
which cannot be estimated on a none
tary basis. We ask for nothing new.
North Carolina has already appropriated
money for extension work with women.
New York is carrying on an extensive
campaign and the province of Ontario,
Can held 4T70 meetings for women last