Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-27

and discussed and the various trade
and labor problems of the country
taken into consideration. Various Sec
lions of the country will be studied,
with view to determining where are
needed the most plumbers, the most
blacksmiths, the greatest number OF
factory hands, or mechanics. The re-
suits of this investigation will then be
turned over to the state boards for vo-
cational education for the information
of the teachers.
The majority of children at the age
of fourteen or fifteen do not show
marked adaptability for any one trade
Or profession. These are exceptions, OF
course. where boys show distinct ten
denotes to be mechanics Or bookkeep.
ers, but the average lad reaches the
age of twenty-one with more or less
regrets that he did not 60 into forestry
instead Of law, or bricklaying instead
of plumbing or farming instead OF
stocks and bonds. 1t Is also a we'll
known fact that If one boy who enjoys
a certain amount of prestige among his
schoolmates decides that he wants to
be an actor or a street car conductor,
all the other boys Immediately decide
upon the same thing. Thus the prob
! lens confronting the teacher OF voca-
tional education are not always as
simple as the psychologists would have
us believe.
The Smith-Hughes act, therefore,
not only provides funds for the states
to expend in procuring teachers to car
ry on vocational schools, but 1t also
,,n1x, ,~s~ R1v roi ~ n,
cational teachers. The sum OF five
hundred thousand dollars Is approprl-
ated the first year to be divided among
the states in proportion to their rural
population and like amount for the
urban population. This is increased by
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
each year until it reaches three mil
lion dollars, which Is the highest ap-
preparation. Thus Illinois, which has
a rural population Of over two million
persons will receive nearly twenty-five
thousand dollars the first year for agri-
cultural instruction; and with an ur-
ban population of over five million will
receive $30,65O for city vocational
schools.
In addition to these appropriations.
FIVE hundred thousand dollars Is to be
divided among the states for the train
ing of teachers for vocational instruc-
ton. This is increased yearly by two
hundred thousand dollars until 1920
when one million dollars is reached,
which is the maximum amount to be
appropriated for that purpose.
This money is to be given to state
boards for vocational education Great
ed by state legislation, which will have
to comply with the regulations Of the
act before they may take advantage OF
| its provisions. The vocational schools
to be established by the state boards
or endowed by them with federal funds
must be controlled by the public and
| may be, of three classes: "All day
schools in which practically half OF the
time should be given to actual practice
for q vocation on useful or produc-
tive basis; part time schools for young
workers over fourteen years of age,
which should extend either their voca.
tional knowledge or give preparation
for entrance to vocation or extend
the general civic or vocational intelli
gence of the pupils; and evening
schools to extend the vocational knowl-
edge for mature workers over sixteen
years OI age. LII Olucl W toAC e%A ' ca
tage of the federal money provision,
the state must raise an equal amount
either by legislative appropriation or
municipal efforts or gifts from inter.
ested citizens. Under the Smith-Lever
act for agricultural extension work a
great deal Of the money contributed by
the states was raised by the various
women's organizations and clubs.
While there are few industrial and
vocational schools in this country,
there is no adequate provision for this
! sort of education at all. In its investt-
cations into the subject, the commit
tee on education discovered that the
| United States has fewer trade schools
than Bavaria and not as many public
facilities for training workers as the
city Of Munich in Germany. There are
over fourteen million Industrial work.
ers in this country and 1t is estimated
that not one out of every hundred OF
these has had any opportunity for pre-
pairing himself for his trade. The
J Smith-Hughes bill Is designed to rem
edy this unfortunate situation.