The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1919-06-26
GOVERNMENT AIDS
DISABLED SOLDIERS
VOCATIONAL TRAINING PLACES
THEM IN, POSITION TO MEET
LIES PROBLEMS.
THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS
STUDENTS HAVE ALL PRIVILEGE
ES OF CIVILIANS-UNCLE
SAM PAYS BILL.

SAM PAYS BILL.
J. E. Vance, vocational advisor for
the Vocational Education Bureau of
the Federal Government spent Fri
day and Saturday of last week con-
ferring with the boys from, this local
ity who were disabled while in the
service. In conversation with Mr..
Vance the Herald discovered that
there is misunderstanding among
the people as to the object of this
vocational training. Some are Of the
opinion that if they take up vocation
al training they are still tied up to
the military life, but the facts are
that the boy has all the privileges of
a civilian-the government is simp-
= ly paying his expenses in fitting him
to handle himself to the best advan-
tage. At the request of the Herald
Mr. Vance prepared the following
statement relative to vocational train
ing: ..>..'-..-.
"Under the provisions of the
Smith's-Sears act passed by Congress
June 9th, 1918 all disabled soldiers
who are compensatiable, who have
been disabled at least ten per cent,
are entitled to Vocational Training
Training under the direction of the
Federal Board for Vocational Edu-
cation and Rehabilitation. The theory
upon which this bill was framed was
that the compensation or pension al
olwed to a disabled soldier is the
smallest consideration that boys may
receive from the government. 1t is
not conducive to the best citizenship
for a boy to become dependent upon
a mere pension of a few dollars per
month on account of his disability.
While on the other hand if, in addition
to his pension he is reeducated and
trained for a new vocation he be-
comes an independent and self-re-
speeding citizen. -. ...."
"In many cases boys who have
been disabled are not able, on account
of their disability, to resume their
former occupations, but this fact
need not interior with their earning
capacity after training. After boy
has been granted compensation by
the War Risk Bureau he may make
application for vocational training and
be paid for his time while he is tax
ing such training. These boys who
apply for training and are placed in
approved schools to learn trade or,
if qualified to take University
course, are allowed $75 per month,
providing they have no dependents,
for their board room and clothing,
the school expenses, such as tuition,
book supplies, ETC., are paid for by
the government. The above amount
mentioned is given to the boy while
in training for his personal use and
he has the liberty to use this money
in the same way, so far as his pr1-
vate expenses are concerned, as he
would have if his father We're furn-
fishing the money.
"The boy who is placed in train
ing by the Federal Board has the
same statue as any other student IN
the school where he is attending.
He comes and goes as he pleases,
wearing such clothes as he sees tit
to purchase, rooming where ne
chooses and eating such food as he
desires. He is not tied down in any
respect as tolength of his course nor
as to obligation to the Government
In the first place he has been given
the choice of taking a course OF tram
ing or not, if after he has decided TO
take training and has applied Tor q
course covering year or even four
years, and after having entered the
course finds that he is not able to
carry on the work or becomes dlsat-
isfied. he even then has the privilege
of changing his course or dropping
out of the training entirely.
After he has completed his course
he is not under any obligation to the
Government except to make good as
an ordinary citizen which is the
obligation of every man, woman and
child. This training furnished the
disabled boy does not stand in his way
of receiving his compensation after ne
has completed his course of training,
the compensation or pension, If you
please to call it, continues after
training. The compensation which
continues indefinitely after he has
completed his course of training is
based upon his per cent Of disability
which is per cent of $50 per month
which is the maximum amount paid
to any man who is in service whether
he was an officer, enlisted man, fe-