The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-08-08
Vocational Column

d
schools. II you enter Berea's great
educational house thru the Voca-
tional door, you will find that there
are many doors inside this Voca-
tional room, thru which you may
enter. In other words, boys and
girls who have finished the eighth
grade may take a course in Agri-
culture, in Business, in Home Sci
ence, in Carpentry, in Printing, in
Telegraphy, in Blacksmithing, or
in Nursing. In taking any one OF
these courses, you are not only get
ting an education in the old sense
Of the term but you are learning
TO do efficiently and in scientific
manner, some one thing.
The great war has found us as a
Nation, vocationally unprepared.
We have not had enough men and
women who have gained an educa-
ton that prepares them TO do eff
ciently the work that has to be done
during such critical times as we are
facing.
The Government has been forced
TO stop and establish vocational
schools TO train carpenters, pay
teachers high salaries and do with
out the service of these men while
they learn the carpenters trade.
Carpenters are in great demand and
receive unusually high wages.
Enough men to do telegraphy WORK
could not be found by our Govern
ment so they have established
schools for these men and deferred
their service until they could take
the training. Berea ran such a
school in connection with our Gov
eminent last year.
People who have had bookkeep-
ing, typewriting and shorthand
have been and are greatly in de-
mand. The Government cannot get
as many people who have had bus
mess training to do the clerical
work as is needed. II young man
enters the army having had a bust
ness course. he is pulled out Of the
ranks within three weeks 10 do Of
flee work Of some kind, or 10 be-
come private secretary TO some OF
the officials. Then the great indus
tries are calling urgently for secre-
taries and clerks. Our graduates
are taking responsible positions and
receiving splendid salaries.
The agricultural extension de-
partment OF various states are find
ing il difficult 10 secure men who
have had an agricultural training
and possess the qualifications OF
leadership TO do the demonstration
work the Government is having
done at this time. The country
certainly needs men who can man.
age farms successfully. in order 10
have every acre produce its maxi
mum, 10 earn as much money as
possible, and at the same time carry
on a system OF farming that will
not destroy the fertility Of the land.
The high price OF land, farm ma
chinery, and labor, and the great
demand for farm products, is fore
ing us 10 use more brains in farm
ing. Berea's agricultural grad
yates are making good.
Food will win the war" This
we have been told many times. The
farmers are producing the food, but
the women Of the country are bear
ing the great part in the conserva-
tion Of food stufrs. II is the girls
and women who have had training
in Home Science, who know how b.
use the many substitutes we are
called upon 20 use, and conserve the
things necessary 10 win the war.
Tn our Home Science course girls
learn how 10 become successful
home makers, not just merely house
keepers.
There are entirely too few black
smiths in the country. This has
been fully demonstrated by the fact
that the Government is unable 10
secure sufficient number OF men
with this training 10 carry on their
work. and in this they must estab-
lish training schools for these men,
and then paw high prices for men
Of such training. We have thought
blacksmithing 10 be a thing any
man with strong arm could do.
hut this war has shown us that
blacksmithing is a science which
challenges good brains OF our coun-
try. 10 is educational the same as
the study Of any other subject.
Who can enter a field Of larger
service than that of becoming a
trained nurse? Here. too, we have
shortage, and we see placards
most everywhere we GO inviting
girls 10 become student nurses. pre-
paratOry 10 rendering efficient