The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-03-05
rhe Pace Vocational am.

The favorable report recently made
by the Senate Committee on Agricul-
ture and Forestry on Senator Pages
vocational education bill is the first
victory for a statesmanlike measure
and the outlook for its passage in the
Senate Is said to be encouraging. The
Washington Post recently had this to
say of the bill.
1.-THE praise which has been given
to tho bill introduced by Senator
Page Of Vermont, with view 10 in
structing the growing generation in
vocational studies. should be sufii-
Client warrant and suggestion to Con-
gress to give more than ordinary at
tention to the measure.
Senator Pages bill attacks uni
versal problem from the right angle.
For many years Congress has been
trying to improve mankind after II
has become "sot in its ways" It has
been trying to instill high standard
of business ethics by putting trust
laws on the statute books, apparently
refusing to admit that laws will not
cure the weakness of ignorance or
habit 1t has been trying to develop
industry and improve the condition Of
men when they are past the period
during which character and habits
are formed.
THE measure introduced by Sena-
tor Page gets TO the root OF every evil
that faces the public today. II pro-
,.gao. La hrtaf for ancOuroUiuQ In
struction in agriculture. the trades
and industries, and home economies;
Tor maintaining instructions in these
vocational subjects in State normal
schools; for maintaining extension
departments in State colleges of agri-
culture and mechanic arts, and for an
appropriation by the government for
cooperation with the States to all
hose ends.
For the government to enter the
leld of education may be decrled as
IN invasion of States rights but the
TACT that the States must do their
hare before they receive national
aid seems to dispose OF this objec-
ion. Already the government is do
ing considerable educational work,
md there is no good reason why II
lhould not extend its activities much
further.
III there is one important work that
he government can do II is along the
lines of education. Cooperation be-
tween the government and the States
in the encouragement Of vocational
studies would lead to greater uni
lormity in education. The kind Of
studies suggested would lead to a
higher sense OF business honor in the
future, and would equip the coming
generations for real service in the
world Instead Of young men and
young women trying to find them
selves and do themselves into the sys
TEN after graduation. they would be
directed from the beginning forward
the activity for which they are best
qualified. There would not be so
much fumbling and cropping. The
progress of future generations would
be surer and more sane.
"rhe present Congress cannot EN-.
ploy its time better than In the con-
slderatlon OF Senator Pages bill II
strikes In a certain sensible manner
at all the evils Congress- is seeking
blindly TO correct The whole pro.
blem is one of education and not OF
laws. IL is not possible to legislate
morality or intelligence into man
kind but Senator Pages measure pre-
sents the one chance for law that
will come near to the accomplishment
of that end"
A vast amount OF rescue and reform
work Ia being done In this country
and It is much needed, but Il Is far
better to provide boys and girls with
the training necessary to make good
citizens and good homemakers at the
start, than to turn them from wrong
ways later. This bill means, II enact
ed into law, vast increase In skill
fulness, on the farm, In the shop aud
In the home. a vast deal OF poverty
and the misery resulting thereform, Is
due to lack Of skill. The individual
never has been trained to do vel
some particular task.
Vermonters will have double In
terest in the success OF the measure
on account OF It's Intrinsic merit and
because II was introduced by one Of
our own Senators. Montpelier
Journal
Children Cry