The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-11-06
UNCLE SAM Wilt.
TRAIN HIS YOUTHS
WHAT THE sMiTH.huoHEs ACT
FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
IS EXPECTED TO 90.
TRADE SCHOOLS EVERYWHERE
National Government and States to
Share the Expenses Equaliy--De-
mands Of the War Have Revealed
the Shortage Of Skilled Men.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.


Sam can do the job. there will be a
night school. q part-time school, or "A
continuation school for every boy and
girl between fourteen and fifteen who
wants to be trained In a vocation. This
In the sum and substance of law
known as the Smth-Hughes Act. re-
Gently passed by congress, whose pro-
visions have just become effective"
The foregoing paragraph has come
to me In response to 0equest made to
a representative of the federal board
for vocational education for informa-
tion concerning the working status of
tn vocational educational law. Be
low Is given the working intention OF
those responsible for the Introduction
Of the new system of learning nSl OF
teaching. The findings are as hey are
presented by representative of the
vocational board. and they are given
here without prejudice.
"Nearly $2.o00.O00 of federal money
goes to the states this year to pay for
the training of teachers In vocational
schools and to pay, also, the salaries
Of these teachers. This federal money
Il met, dollar for dollar. by an equal
amount of money raised by the states.
In Washington sits a board called the
federal board for vocational education.
which administers the law. BY the
year 1925 the appropriation from con-
gress reaches the three million dollar
mark. For the next eight years Uncle
Sam has set aside $38,000.000 for this
purpose.
VIII Spread Through the Union.
I'm this way the schools of the ma
tion win be gradually enlarged and
extended so that within very short
time there will not be city or town
OF any size but has a first-class pub
lie trade OF vocational school, and the
country communities will have schools
where boys and girls. men and women.
can secure the best training In the
best and latest methods of farming.
Throughout the Union the war Is
demanding trained men-men trained
In arms. men trained In making am
munition. men trained In telegraphy.
In every branch and trade of every
necessary manufacturing process. men
trained to do all the manifold various
things which a modern nation fighting
for the ideals of modern civilization
requires. There is a shortage of these
trained men. The government cannot
find all the men II needs TO work be-
hind and on the lines. There Is
shortage of skilled labor.
'The reason is that the nation has
hardly begun the job OF educating
practically the millions who gear after
year have. entered industry. II has
been authoritatively stated that In thu
whole country there are fewer trade
schools than are to be found I'm thu
little kingdom OF Bavaria with pop
uation not much greater than that o.
New York city. In Munich alone more
workers are being trained al public
expense than In all the larger citie!
Of the United States. representing I
population OF 12,000.000 Out of thu
nearly 100000 persons who accord
ing to the last census were engaged
In agriculture alone. II Is estimated
that only about per cent had ade
quate preparation. Is 1t any wonde
that there is a shortage of food? ~,
Of the 100000 engaged in manufac
turing, not one In hundred VA
trained. Is 1t any wonder that we ar
falling behind In the fierce econom
competition with other nations for tn
markets Of the world?
Better Jobs and Better Pay.
sAt the time Of the gathering of tn
last census there were In the Unite
States 7,22O.OO0 children between th
ages OF fourteen and eighteen. A
present this young army goes to 1t
task almost totally unframed. Goo
vocational training would assure thes
youngsters not only better Jobs bu
better pay. II we estimate that the
went to work trained instead of vi
trained, II Is not too much to recko
that their wages would be larger b
10 cents q day. Now. vocational ed,
cation experts put the cost Of trainn
Z boy at about $50. In five years thi
outlay WOuiu ue inoiC siiub " "''
pensed BY increased wages-and tn
results In the way of increased pr'
ductivity could not be measured.
"The battles Of the future betwee
nations will be fought In the market
OF the world. That nation will IT
umph, with all that Its success NEAR
to the happiness and welfare Of u
citizenship. which 10 able to put n
greatest amount of skill and brains Il
to what It produces.
I'VE have 10 fight Germany with hu
lets and battleshlps--the only langua,
Germany understands. We have all
begun the equally important task
fighting Germany with trained indu
trial workers"