Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-27
Vocational Training
BY Frederic ]. Haskin

j "y - N~NA ~
Washington, d. c., May %. The
vocational school, product of European
educational systems, is soon to become
an American institution. A bill author
izing the establishment of federal
board for vocational education and ap-
preparations for vocational schools has
been reported favorably by the Com
mittee on education and now awaits
the vote of congress. This bill, called
the Smith.Hughes bill because 1t was
introduced in the house by Congress
man Dudley NJ Hughes and in the SEN
ate by Senator Hoke Smith, both OF
Georgia, includes the substance of the
Smith-Lever act of 1914, which provid-
ed that the federal government should
cooperate with the various states In
teaching scientific farming in the rural
communities.
Briefly, the Smith-Lever act provid-
ed funds for each state that could pro-
duce an equal amount to be expended
in teaching the youth of the farming
districts how to farm. Already the
crops raised by these students are
from fifty to hundred per cent super.
Tor to those raised under the old meth.
DDS.
While the youth on the farm was be.
ing trained, by, government assistance.
the youth of the cities was often leav.
ing the public schools unprepared to
earn his living, for only our larger
cities have vocational training. After
spending eight years of his life in the
school room, the American boy Is
hor Il cpr hnr ri
ing living than he was when he first
started. He may show distinct apti.
tude for several things, but Is handi-
capped on account of his lack of prac-
tical training with the result that he is
compelled to accept the first job which
opportunity offers. Having leaning
toward mechanics or bricklaying, he
must sell newspapers or become an Of
fee boy because he does not know how
to do anything else The apprentice
system long ago went out of existence,
leaving no kind of training to take its
place.
In Georgia. particularly, the lack of
trained labor Is q serious problem. The
state Is rich In agriculture and miner
ais, which, instead of building up
large industries there, are shipped to
New England and the middle west for
manufacture. Congressman Hughes of
Georgia has In his Office a device for
sealing letters made in Findlay, Ohio,
from kaolin ore mined in his home
county. If Georgia could supply the
skilled labor to operate factories, cap.
ital would locate there instead of NOV.
ing on to the north and west. This
statement applies to much Of the south.
Furthermore, the whole United
States needs vocational education.
Congressman Hughes estimates that
out of the one million youths who year
ly begin the earning of their living,
only twenty-five thousand are in any
way prepared to undertake the task.
To provide these boys with technical
education that will permit them conf.
IDENTIFY to pursue their trade, is the
main purpose OF the federal board. The
girls, also, are to be taught home
economics and appropriate trades, In
addition to which there Is also provf'
sion for adults who make up the large
army of unskilled workers.
The federal board for vocational edu-
cation Is to consist of four members,
appointed by the president. and the
United States commissioner of educa-
ton, who is to be its chairman. When
the bill was first drafted 1t provided
that the board should consist of the
members of the cabinet, but this was
seriously objected to by the national
society for the promotion of vocational
education. 1t was pointed out by them
that the secretaries Of the various de-
partments had all and more than they
could attend to at present, and the
work would be left to some under sec
rotary or clerk who might happen not
to be equipped to handle the Job. In
stead, it was suggested that the mem
bers Of the board be chosen from the
various trades representations each
from agriculture, labor, industry and
commerce. The bill as it now stands
is a compromise between the two, the
departmental secretaries being elimin-
ated. but the president being allowed
to choose anyone he wishes from
lawyer or college professor to an ex-
pert plumber.
The board is created for the purpose
of studying and doing research work
concerning the vocational school.
European methods will be investigated