Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1919-02-07
Facts About the County
Vocational School

The County Vocational School is un-
der the control of a County Board OF
Education, appointed by the Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas, and con-
sists Of five members. It's estimate of
expenses is submitted to a County
Board of Estimate, consisting Of two
members of the County Board Of Edu-
cation, two members of the County
Board OF Freeholders, and the Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas. The
County Vocational School is under the
supervision of the State Commissioner
and State Board of Education, and the
Federal Board for Vocational Educa-
ton, and its work and management
must have the approval of all,three, 10
order that the school may continue and
receive state and federal aid. Its status
is precisely that of any other public
school.
The value of its work has been prov
en- to the farmers of the county, as is
sho wn by a resolution passed unani-
mously Saturday, January 18th, 1919,
by between 200 and 300 farmers, at a
meeting OF the County or Pomona
Grange, commencing the institution
lin the highest terms.
The value of its work was proven TO
the board of freeholders, January 2lst,
by the voluntary presence and testimony
Of a dozen prominent farmers aud stu
dents of the school, and the number
could have been made a hundred, If it
had been thought necessary.
1t has had the approval of the state
authorities during the four years of it's
life, and the approval Of both national
and state authorities, last year and this,
the Federal Board for Vocational edu-
cation coming into existence last year,
for the first time.
Atlantic county appropriates annual
ly So, 900 for its County Vocational
school and there has never been a single
dissenting voice. Cape May county Is
doing a great deal of work in its Voca-
tional school on an average of one-third
the money.
1t is within the power of the county
board of education to establish In any
town or city of the county, a vocation
al school for any vocation whatever.
II Wild wood or any other town de-
sires a school in carpentry or any ofthe
building trades, or any other trade, and
will make the desire known. it can be
established under county vocational
school auspices, il the circumstances
favor it.
Agriculture and home economics are
the first vocations selected, because they
constitute the vocational corner stones
of the whole civic edifce. Destroy the
practice of these two activities and you
destroy the world. Build up such prac-
tees and make them more efficient and
you stimulate energy in every other
line.
For a generation the cities have been
rapidly growing in population, and the
rural sections as rapidly diminishing.
Thre is less population and fewer acres
cultivated In Dennis Township, than
there we're sixty years ago. There are
fewer acres cultivated in Upper Town
ship and probably In Lower. In Mid
die, there has been no loss in popnla-
ton and probably not in acreage Guilt
waited, because of activities at Court
House in other lines of work, but there
has been no growth in the farming sec
tons.
The Vocational school is developing
an interest which is helping to keep
the boys on the farm and to stimulate
the interest aud ambition of all farmers
to excel.
The per capita cost per pupil is less
than that Of any school in the county
The plan under which it is being OPP
Grated is that laid down by the Federal
Board for Vocational Education, and
endorsed by the State Board of Educa-
ton. The project method is exclusive
ly employed, by which is meant that
the student selects one or more certain
projects, as potato raising, orchard work,
pig raising, or any other of the farm
activities, and under the guidance Of
the vocational teacher, develops this
project, every care being taken to make
1t as profitable as possible.
The best proofs of the success
of the student will be the excellence OF
the product and the proftableness of
the venture.
The work of the school continues the
year round, and teachers are always in
touch with all students.
In household arts, definite courses of
study are formulated and these are
carried out IN the houses of students,
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