New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1918-10-18
PROGRESS OF VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION IN NEW MEXICO

PROGRESS OF VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION IN NEW MEXICO
With realization fastened by war
conditions of the necessity for voca-
tional education, many school officials
are requesting information about vo-
cational courses that may be offer
ed in the schools of this state. This
issue of the Educational Bulletin
publishes this brief article to give a
few general conditions governing the
establishment and maintenance OF vo-
cational education under the terms
of the Smith-Hughes Act No at
tempt is made to give any amount
of detail which may be obtained by
writing the State Department Of Edu-
cation for copy of the state plans.
The first State Legislature in 1912
passed bill providing for the appoint
ment of State Director of Industrial
Education by the State Superintend-
cnt and made an appropriation for
the salary of the Director, together
with travelling and office expenses.
All rulings covering this type of edu-
cation were left in the hands of the
State Board of Education. 1t was
evidently the purpose and intention
of this law to establish vocational
education but no appropriation was
made for state aid to schools offer
ing courses in vocational education
and in reality the secondary schools
merely continued their practical arts
or prevocational courses in manual
training, domestic science and agri-
culture. Since there, was no state
aid to offer, no standards could be
set or definite requirements made.
The director could only encourage
the work and assist teachers in plan
ming and improving the courses.
Then in February 1917, Congress
passed the Smith-Huehes act grant
ing Federal aid TO the States for voca-
tional education. 1t was necessary
for each State Legislature to accept
the benefits of the Federal Act and
to make provision for matching the
federal funds dollar for dollar from
state or local funds or both. In May
1917. Governor Washington E. Lind
sey issued a call for an Extraordin-
ary Session of the Legislature for
the purpose of passing certain war
Governor Lindsey had the
vision and foresight to realize that
vocational education is now ma
tional necessity and to include the
bill accepting the benefits
IF the Smith Hughes Act as a war
measure in his call for the special
session of the legislature. The bill
was passed without an opposing vote
and an appropriation Of state funds
was made to match the Federal funds
allotted to New Mexico.
The State Vocational Act. Senate
Bill No. 4. designated the State Board
IF Education as the State Board for
Vocational Education. The State
o. Public Instruction,
!. Fl. Wagner. was made executive
officer, and the State Director of In
iustrial Education, Mrs. Ruth {.
Miller. was appointed State Director
IF Vocational Education.
Plans were formulated for admin
stering vocational education under
he Smith-Hughes Act and were ap-
proved bv the Federal Board for Vo-
Education. The revised state
,lans for lolS-lo have again been
BY the Federal Board.
Two Supervisors have been appoint
ID. E. D. Smith is Supervisor of Agri-
cultural Education. and A. B. Ander-
on is supervisor of Industrial Edu-
.ation. The staff for vocational edu-
alton has had many personal inter
'iews and correspondence with local
interested in vocationa.
and desiring to offer ap.
proved courses under the Smith
hughes Act.
In every community where repre-
of the State Board for Vo-
Education have been on pro-
not;onal work. whether in citv or
ural community the leaders in in
lustrial or agricultural pursuits are
and assisting in every
way to help carry forward the sys-
EN- of vocational education, tho need
# which is now beyond question.
With the Federal Government appro-
,riating funds and the stat. appro-
'riating an equal amount and local
adding to this fund.
here can be established in this state
thorough going efficient system of
ocational education |
The Federal Government lends aid
o each state of the union on the
asis of its rural population for agri-
ulture and on the basis Of its urban
population for trades and industries:
The following shows the Federal
unds allotted to this state fC the
irst year
For salaries OF teachers.
upervisors or directors of
agricultural education. OCOOOsS
For salaries Of teachers
f trade, home economics
# industrial education. 100000
For training of teachers
f agriculture. trade. home
economies or Industrial sub 1
ects, 10000
Total $lsOO0
This sum is matched by $4,000 state
ppropriation, making a total Of $30,- |