Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-30

ESlo the end that every man in the
United states Army may have
an equal chance to help him
self to quick promotion and in
creased pay and at the same time serve
his country with the utmost efficiency
and intelligence. the War Department
has asked tho federal board for voca-
Sional education to act as a co-ordinat-
ang agency in instructing the men of
the second and succeeding drafts in
such occupations and vocational train
ing, requiring other than military
schooling as will meet the urgent war
needs both for the Army and war in
dustries.
The purpose is not 10 wait until the
men are sent to the cantonments 10
ind out what they are technically and
mocha nicaIly fitted for. but to begin
the vocational training of all selected
men and those subject to the draft as
soon as they have passed the physical
examination
While the American soldier is claimed
TO be the most easily adaptable fight
ing man in the world at the same time
the speed with which he can be sent
TO the front will be greatly accelerated
by this preparatory training. The in
tensive training in the cantonmeut Will
Re finishing or even postgraduate
course for him.
In this move toward increased ef-
hciency the United States is profiting
by the mistakes made by some of the
countries now at war in allowing their
skilled mechanicianS. electricians and
scientific men to so into the trenches
when they could have been OF infinitely
more service in using their technical
and mechanical training IN branches OF
he q
on the firing line. In other words. the
plan il, not TO put gun into the hands
of the man who is an expert mach1nist
or electrician when he is needed by
the Aviation Corps to keep the flying
machines in the air. or in another
branch.
This preliminary training OF the
drafted men is to be voluntary and
limited TO the actual needs of the
Army as indicated by the several de-
partments. II is planned that none but
the physically fit drafted men due for
the second and following drafts may
be admitted 10 the training courses
Glasses will be held for the most part
in the evening, permitting the men TO
continue their regular occupations as
uninterruptedly as possible. The
courses will be arranged not only for
men who have no trade or particular
vocational training. but also for those
who as wage earnerS are established
IN their trade or occupation and can
by this course increase their efficiency
in the Army during the war, gain more
rapid promotion and after the war is
over enhance their wage-earning ca
pacity.
The plan of the federal board for vo-
cational education, cooperating with
the War Department. is to mobilize
every school in the United States, pub
lie and private, academical and tech
meal. that can be equipped to assist in
training drafted men in those branches
of science and industry that will most
speedily prepare them for active serv-
ice. especially in the Signal. Aviation
and Quartermaster Corps. This is per-
haps the first time that public and
private schools have been called on by
the government to supply a deficiency
of skilled men totaling into the thou
sands.
The board of vocational education
was appointed by the President under
the Smith-Hughes act. passed in Feb
ruary. 1917. Working in cooperation
with the states. this board has for the
current year the expanding of $780,
900 for the payment of the salaries of
vocational teachers in agriculture.
trade. industrial subjects and home
economics. According 10 the law each
agrees to match each dollar Of federal
money with rnorey raised in the state
or community in which it is 70 be ex-
pended. Section of the act recites:
That federal board for vocational
education is hereby created. to consist
OF the Secretary of Agriculture. the