Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-04-17
Federal Aid
For Vocational Education.

The Augusta Chronicle directs attention to the
important fact that If Georgia is to share In the
benefits of the Smith-Hughes measure providing
federal aid for vocational education, the Legisla-
ture at its next session must establish or deslg-
nate a State board through whom the national au-
thorities may deal. This board will serve In It's
particular field much the same purpose that the
State highway commission serves in supervising
the expenditure of federal funds for road improve
ments 1t will pass upon plans proposed for Voca-
tional training by various communities and' III
turn, submit such plans 1t approves to the ma
tional board 1t will that all grants are efh-
GENTLY administered and as far as 1t can
the extension and development of vocational
training by various communities and, In turn, SUD
NIT such plans it approves to the national
board. 1t will see that all grants are efficiently
administered and encourage far as it can the
extension and development of vocational schools
No State which fails to provide such a board VIII
be entitled to share in the federal fund. Georgia
has especial to be interested because the
authors of this broadly constructive legislation
we're Senator Hoke Smith and former Congressman
Hughes.
Once fairly applied, the principles of the
Smih-Hughes act will increase the earning capacity
of hundreds of thousands of individuals and will
add intellectually to the nations productive power.
The majority of American boys and girls leave
school the age of fourteen younger, and enter
forthwith upon the serious business of breadWin-
ming. Authorities estimate that at least two MIL
lion between the age of fourteen and sixteen are
working for wages and that of these the great ma
jority are unskilled and incompetent for respon-
stole tasks. 1t is estimated, furthermore, that
each year at least one million youths required
to recruit the great army of the countrys workers
Farming, mining, manufacturing, transportation
and kindred pursuits enlist some twenty-four mil
lion persons of eighteen years and over. If the
tions work is to be done we'll and it's human as
we'll as economic interests promoted, these labor
ing legions must be prepared for what they nave
to do Yet, out of fourteen and quarter million
persons engaged in manufacturing and mechanical
trades, fewer than per cent have had or now
have chance to obtain adequate industrial train
ing.
It is to meet this far-reaching and urgent need
that the Government purposes to establish its sys
tenn of aid and inspiration for vocational schooling
The friends of the plan less interested in the
amount of the funds to be granted than in the
stimulating and constructive influence it will exert
1t will bestir the public to keener concern in vo-
cationa education and will lead to the establish
ment of vocation schools in many communities
which otherwise would never give the subject
earnest thought And thus it will open OppOr-
tunities to hundreds of thousands of people, espe
cially young people, who otherwise would go
through life without the advantages OF skilled
training for their work.
The schools to be aided under this system are
of three types all-day schools where virtually half
the time will be devoted to actual practice for a
vocation; part-time schools for young workers
fourteen years of age and evening schools for the
benefit of workers older than sixteen years. The
training to be given will fit the pupils for useful
or profitable employment in agriculture, in trades
and industries and in home economics. Main
tenance costs other than the salaries of teachers
to be borne by the State and by local communi-
ties The federal grants will be used for parts of
salaries of teachers, supervisors and directors
and for the training of teachers of agricultural,
trade, industrial and home economics subjects.