The Washington times., 1915-07-23
Systematic Training Calculated
to Put America in Lead in
! Industrial World.
COMMISSION IS APPOINTED
Adverse Feeling in Number Of
Colleges Has Proven Handi-
cap to Advocates Of Plan.

The vocational education bill is ex-
pected to attract mtie than usual no
lice at the coming session Of Congress.
The problem Of establishing a sys-
tenn Of vocational training is Of import
ance at thia time because Of the ef-
forts now being put forth to put this
country at the front in industrial de-
velopnlent and because of the Euro
pean war. to mako 1t lead the world in
dustrially. commercially and financially.
Those who talk glibly about putting
the United States into this position do
not always realize what 1t means. what
systematic effort it entails, what re-
sponsibiities would fall on the nation
holding such A position. Believers in
vocational education are convinced a
system of this sort would add enormous
ly to the nations efficiency. Ths
has been advocating such legislation.
Names Commission.
About a year ago the President ap-
pointed a commission to study vocation
al education. This commission prepared
a bill. and it will be up to Congress the
coming session. 1t provides for ex-
pending annually s700O,Om. This is TO
be divided so s3.Oo0.ooO will be for train
ing in agriculture. SO. 900, 600 to aid voca-
tional needs and Industries. and 81 .oU, 900
for training teachers in vocational sub
/jects
1t Is deemed likely Congress will con-
slider the subject more intelligently
than 1t has in the past. A great deal OF
opposition has been exerted TO Federal
aid for vocational education. Jealousy
felt against such a system by various
q ~ hA S~r Hk&-
opposition. Some of the agricultural
colleges and experiment stations. which
now draw aid fro mthe General Govern
ment are not kindly toward the idea.
case. and some OF the opponents OF the
bill say education should be in the
hands Of the States. not Of the Federal
Government: Again. there is an eIe-
nent that looks on education as cui-
tural Of the intellectual processes and
that SHES violently at a system of edu-
cation that trains the Individual to earn
his bread and butter.
For National Board.
One feature Of the bill provides for a
national board of vocational education
to consist Of five members. the heads Of
the Departments Of Agriculture. Labor,
Interior. Commerce and Postoffice. This
would have the approval of expendi-
lures. in conjunction with State legis-
latures. Believers in education being
controlled by the States dislike this
feature Of the bill.
In the opinion Of the commission. Fed
eral aid to vocational education is Of
such Importance that the General Gov
eminent ought 10 take hold of 1t. 1t Is
asserted that not one person in a hum
dred in this country has been rightly
trained for his work, and contrast Is
drawn in this respect with the voca-
tior,al training abroad, especially in Ger
many. One phase Of the report says
there are more vocational schools in
Munich than in all the great cities OF
that the falling off in attendance on the
public schools would be remedied II pu-
pills were enabled to study in the voca-
tions in which they expected to earn
their liylihood.