Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-19

W o.>, II. -, May III he
vocational school. product OF European
educational systems. Is soon TO become
An American institution. bill au-
thorizing the establishment OF A Fed
eral board of vocational education and
appropriations for vocational, schools
has been reported favorable by tn,
Committee on Education and now
awaits the vote of Congress. This bill.
called the Smith Hughes Bill, because
1t was introduced in the House by Con-
gresham Dudley NJ. Hughes and In tho
Senate by Senator lIoke Smith. both
OF Georgia includes the substance OF
the Smith-Levcr act OF 1913. which
provides that tho Federal government
should cooperate with the various
states I'm teaching scientific farming
in the rural communities
Briefly, the Smith-Iever act provides
funds for each state that could pro
duce An equal amount. to he expended
in teaching the youth Of tho farming
districts how TO farm. Already tho
crops raised By these students are from
30 10 100 per cent superior to those
raised under the old methods
While the youth on the farm was
being trained. by government assist
ancc. tho youth OF the cities was often
leaving the public schools unprcparcd
TO earn his living, for only our larger
cities have vocational training After
spending eight years OF his life In the.
hardly further equipped towards earn
Ing living than he was when he first
started lc may show a distinct apti-
tude for several things but is haudi-
capped on account OF his lack OF prac.
teal training. with tho result that he
Is compelled TO accept the first lob
which opportunity offers. Having Il
leaning toward mechanics or brickIay-
Ing. hc must sell newspapers or become
an office boy because he does not know
how 10 do anything else The appren-
,ice system long ago went out OF exist
cncc. leaving no kind OF training TO
take its place.
Need for Trained Labor.
In Georgia, particularly. the lack Of
trained labor is a serious problem.
Tho state Is rich in agriculture and
minerals which. Instead OF building up
largo industries there. are shipped TO
New England aud the Middle West for
manufacture. Congressman Hughes, OF
Georgia, has In his oncc a device for
sealing letters made in Findlay. Ohio.
from kaoiin orc mined in his home
county. II Georgia could supply the
skilled labor to operate factories capt.
tai would locate there Instead OF NOV
Ing on to the north and west. This
statement applies to much Of tho South
Furthermore. tho whole United states
needs vocational education. Congress
man Hughes estimates that out of the
100000 youths who yearly begin the
earning of their living. only $4,000 are
in any way prepared to undertake the
task. To provide these boys with tech
nical education that will permit them
confidently to pursue their trade, is
the main purpose OF the Federal hoard.
The girls. also, are to be taught home
economies and appropriate trades, In
addition to which there is also pro-
vision for adults who mako up tho large
nf nnSkjlleI
The Federal board for vocational
education is TO consist Of four mem-
hers. appointed by tho President and
the United States Commissioner OF Edu-
cation. who is to be It's chairman.
When the bill was first drafted It pro-
vided that the board should consist of
the members of the Cabinet, but this
was seriously objected to by the Ma
tional Society for the Promotion OF
Vocational Education. 1t was pointed
out by them that the secretaries OF
the various departments had all and
more than they could attend to at
present, and the work would he left to
Home under secretary clerk, who
might happen not to he equipped to
handle tho Job. Instead, il was sug-
gested that the members of the board
be chosen from the various trades rep
resented-one each form agriculture.
labor, Industry and commerce. The
bill as it now stands is a compromise
between the two. the departmental sec
retaries being eliminated, but tho
President being allowed to choose any
one he wishes, from lawyer col
lege professor TO an expert plumber.
For Study and Research.
The board is created for the purpose
of studying and doing research work
concerning the vocational school E,u-
ropean methods VIII be investigated
and discussed. and the various trade
and labor problems of the country
taken into consideration. Various sec
tons 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
vocational education for the informa-
ton 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. There are exceptions. OF
course, where boys show distinct ten
denotes to be mechanics or bookkeeD-
ers, but the average lad reaches the
age OF twenty-one with more or less
regrets that he did not go into forestry
instead Of law, or bricklaying instead
OF plumbing, or farming instead Of
stocks and bonds. It is also a we'll
known fact that if one boy who enjoys
certain amount OF prestige among
his schoolmates decides that he wants
to be all actor or street car conduc-
tor. all the other boys Immediately de-
eide upon the same thing. Thus the
problems confronting the teacher Of
vocational education are not always 8
simple as the psychologists would have
Us believe.
The Smith-Hughes act, therefore. no.