Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-30
CITY SCHOOLS TRAIN MEN
FOR SERVICE IN ARMY
Richmond Makes Instant Response
to Governments Call for
Assistance.
INSTRUCTION WITHOUT CHARGE
Vocational Night Glasses Working
Hard to Equip Rcglstrnnts Who
Will Be Called to CoIors-Depart-
nients Mako known Needs.

OF nation wide significance is the
Cnitcd States governments urgent
need ut this crucial period in it's his
tory Of trained men in the army. men
who are skilled mechanics. carpenters
and chauffcurS; mon who can repair
automobiles and who understand Easo-
liue engines. and mon who can operate
radlo-buzaer. BY the aviation section
alone, 10000 trained men have been
asked for. and OF these $1,000 must
know how TO repair automobiles and
operate any make OF car. OF radio
buzzcr operators, 1900 are wanted By
the government, and only 1000 arc in
training at the present time.
In the city Of Richmond 10 located
ono OF the thirty-six examining boards
OF the aviation section Of the army.
and IL Is Richmond which has made
instant rcsponsc 20 the call OF the
government for technical training for
the drafted men in Glasses and .. who
may expect To he called at any time.
and II is the vocational department OF
the city schools Of Richmond which is
supplying this technical instruction.
free OF charge, by skilled instructors
in the afternoon and evening classes
NJ the Vocational Night School. ~ sos
East MARSHALL street. Adm .nistration
Building. opposit. tho John Marshall
High School. TO these drafted men.
Wide publicity Is being given the
efforts OF the city schools to cooper
alto with tho government, since II Is
Imperative that the demand for trained
men be supplied. and II is equally i'm
perative that the men themselves may
know where this training may be had
nj once without loss OF time.
nADIo-BUZZER OPERATORS
IN GREAT DEMAND
Onicers at tho aviation camps have
Just sent fifteen men TO the Vocational
Night School to receive instruction in
Easolne-ensine construction, and there
arc now th!rty-fve mon in the radio
buszer class, which Is under the in
struction OF naval officer furnished
by the government, Ensign w. Jones.
United states Naval reserve force.
when these men can take twenty words
a minute they will be sent higher up"
10 perfect their training.
So insistent is the demand 70. radio
buzzcr operators that there Is no chance
OF an oversupplv OF operators
The motor proposition is being tackled
on large scale by the Vocational
Night School. Men to whom gasoline
engines are fearful and wonderful mys
tcries are having these mysteries ex-
plained 10 them. and sevcra! big repair
shops OF the city are cooperating fur
ther In allowing the students OF these
the prs training necessary in the
actual handling OF disabled engines or
motors.
Thi3 is what the city Of Richmond
is doing TO expedite the technical
training OF men for the army, and 1t
is hoped that the example set by Rich
rrcud will inspire the state OF Nlr-
rinia 10 make satisfactory provision
for all drafted men TO receive technical
training along the lines for which there
Is the most insiftent demand.
In further support OF the plan OF the
city. access Is to he had by the school
officials to the returned questionraires.
ard by this means to determine what
men have any technical training or
have been skilled laborcrs and desire
further instruction.
The school officials will endeavo- at
once TO communicate with all these
men. Offering the advantages Of the
instruction OF skilled techncians In the
Vocational Might School.
pr. J. A. c. Chandler. superintendent
Of the city schools. is alro the chair
man IT the vocational department OF
The state Board OF Education, and. be-
ing vitality Interested in this phase OF
his work. pr. Chandler personally an.
pearcd before the state Council OF De
tense at It's regular meeting Friday
and explained tho plan by which the
ely schools intended 10 60 cooperate with
The government 10 meet the cxigency
OF the present situation
WAR EMERGENCY CLASSES
FORMED IN EVERY STATE
'hese war emergency classes" as
they are called, date their incipiercy
to tho conference which was called in
washington December ~. by the Fed
Grail Board for Vocational Education at
the request OF the War Department.
ell OF Natioual Defense, the United
states Commissioner OF Eiucation
Federal Board OF Vocational E,ducati ion
and directors OF vocational education
from twcnty-six states.
The purpose of tho conference was
10 devise WAYS and means 10 relieve
the serious condition existing in the
army as regards the supply OF me-
chanics. techniciars. ard other trained
help In tho various branches Of the
army. The adjutant- general of the
United States had asked the Federal
board TO use its Office TO help in the
emergency, and had written TO officers
desire OF thu Secretary OF war that
chiefs Of bureaus maintain close CO.
operation with the boards furnishing
such information as TO number Of men
10 be trained, necessary courses. etc
The proper authorities in each State
Also nave PERMISSION to obtain ccrta in
information from the missionaries
Oiled out by each drafted man as re-
lates TO his training and peculiar fit
ness for certain lines of work"
One OF the questions asked everv
man is whether or not he is willing to
attend evening classes. In view of the
conditions existing In the army this
conference decided to help in every
gay possible by making drive in
each state. for the establishment of
war emergency classes" day or night,
and do everything possible to induce
men subject to the draft to undertake
such work as they are peculiarly fitted
for.
Most States already have a director
OF vocational education and Will en-
ploy additional men to devote thoir full
time to the war emergency work Other
states promised full cooperation by
having man appointed for the State
drive As soon as funds could be Sc