The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-02-25
TO EDUCATE WORKERS
Plan of the Proposed Vocational
Education Law.
ITS IMPORTANCE TO LABOR.

Development Of Technical Skill Would
Result In a Higher Quality of Pro-
duction-Fsrmers' Union Supports
the Measure.
Discussing the new vocational edu-
| cation bill, which in a somewhat diff
ferent form has been before congress
| for three years, the American Fedora
Zionist says editorially:
"The present draft of the bill en-
bodies the consensus Of judgment re-
| sulting from wide discussion Of the
| subject by educators. employees, en-
| ployers and farmers as well as of
women interested in practical school
training for girls.
"Under this proposed law the federal
| government, the states and the local
| communities would be united in CO.
| operative movement to place within
| the reach of every boy and girl in the
country the opportunity of securing
| both q general and vocational educa-
ton. The public high schools. which
are mainly in our cities, would receive
pO,OOO,OUU, anu Tue OOO W HUI dSTlCul-
tural high schools distributed through
| out the farming regions $400000O.
Probably one-third the total sum APP
propriated would be used for the me-
chanical trades and industries. one
third for instruction Of girls In home
making and one-third for agriculture.
The million dollars proposed in this
bill for state normal schools is in ad-
dition to the million dollars provided
by the Nelson amendment Of 1907 for
use by the state colleges in the prepa
ration of teachers of industrial sub
iects, provision thus being made to
teach the teachers.
"The state legislatures in accepting
the provisions Of this law will assume
the obligation to purchase land, erect
buildings and provide ways and means
for the general studies, restricting the
use of the money from the national
treasury for distinctive instruction in
agriculture, the trades, industries and
home economics.
"To safeguard all interests concerned
the administration of the law is placed
with the United States bureau of edu-
cation, together with the department
Of commerce and labor and the interior
department, while the department Of
agriculture will cooperate. In the ma
tional bureau of education would thus
be centralized the general direction of
the educational affairs of the federal
and state governments, the aim being
better leadership and complete
unity Of direction. The departments
Of agriculture and commerce and labor
with their large forces of trained
workers, would be expected to aid in
giving initiative, direction, inspiration
and impetus to the practical side Of the
system and the national and state
governments become more vitality con-
nected with the higher and better de-
velopment of our youth.
"The promoters of the proposed law
hope that the fact Of the nation recog-
nizing the needs of the men and wo-
men who work, while Identifying the
manual vacations with technical edu-
cation, Will result in gaining for our
republic a still stronger place in the
hearts of all our people. They believe
that the addition of some tens of thou
sands Of highly skilled workers to our
already trained labor forces would en-
able America to make it's entrance into
any of the desirable worlds markets
with ease. An advanced standard of
production In quality would give
higher character to the output Of our
American establishments. resulting in
a more highly developed social order
and the use Of accrued wealth to bet
ter advantage. Moreover, it is pre-
dicted by its wellwishers that the
passage of this bill will mark the
beginning of new era In the rela-
tions of labor and capital. However
this may be, 1t is certain that the
school courses and influences Of our
common schools have too much been
turned to the interests of the elect few
who seek through advanced school
training advantageous and leisurely oc-
equations, while the mass the so per
cent of those who earn living with
the labor of their hands have to accept
tuc SCnOOl COuOitiOho BiONaNSN Iva thS
benefit of the few who can continue
through the entire course.
"The success of some of the best
forms of Industrial training. including
practical schools of agriculture, is evil
dence that vocational education is be-
coming permanent addition to our
educational system.
"The proposed measure has the pos
sibilities of proving Of vital importance
to labor, which, by joining its forces
in this issue with that of the farmer.
can hasten the day when labor in field.
shop and mine shall justly WELD pre-
uonderant influence in our great com
mon school system
"A representative Of the farmers or
ganization and representative of the
American Federation OF Labor Jointly
presented this bill on industrial educa-
ton to Senator Dolliver Of Iowa, who
expressed himself as being gratified
that the request was jointly made OF
him. He introduced 1t In the senate
promptly"