The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-01
IT IS NOT 4 CHARTTYS
Free Re-education for Disabled Men Held by Government ns Their Just Due

Washington, March Tt has been found after coming in contact with
 many disabled soldiers and sailors
 that some of them have the idea that
 the free trade training placed at their
 disposal by the government of the
 United States is a charity proposition,
 and on that acc unt some of them are
 inclined to reject 1t.
 It is quite the reverse, The gov
 ernment takes the position that as 1t
 called these men in health and
 strength from their pre-war occupa-
 tions, the moral duty upon the gov
 ernment Is to make restitution as far
 as possible. The medical authori-
 ties do all that Is possible to restore
 the men to health and strength and
 the government then proceeds to
 neutrnlize irnpairnents by specialized
 education. The abilities that remain to the man are developed to their ut
 most limit, and the result is that he Is able to do some one thing particu- larly well.
 For instance, an infantrynan who
 was disabled with his left hand gone,
 through an anputation following a
 severe wound. had been a plumber for sixteen years before entering the
 9C4 F4CS' AS EAuH1DGE ACSOS DOl
 his hands, he manIfestIy could not
 continue in his former occupation.
 The federal board for vocational edu- 1 cation considered that as a plumber knows all about drains, sinks, leaks
 and stoppages, and the like, he was
 good raw material to transform into a sanitary inspector. He is now un- dergoing that training, being support ed by the government at the rate of $65 per month, and when he has fin tshed, a job will be found for him,
 and in addition to his salary, he will get his pay from the war risk 3nsur- ance bureau.
 Another instance is that of the sol dier who had been a barber, but from some of the severe hikes in the army l developed fiat feet that Is, the 1 arches of his feet became disIocated,
 making it painful for him to do much
 walking or to stand sny length of 1 time. As a barber knows all about
 razors, the federal board built on his l trade information and the man is now l taking a course as an expert razor 1 grinder, an occupation which he can follow, and will give him a good | livelihood.
 Another instance Is that of the ] first man placed for re-education by 1 the federal board, a young Greek 1 who had come to this country in 1912. He was violently American, and broadly, had filed naturalization 1 papers, and he volunteered in the
 American army. Being a baker he 1 was put at doing that which he knew 1 best, so that his army services were | in the army cantonment bake shop. ] During the winter of 1918, in trans { ferriIrg from the hot bake oven-rooms l to the bitter cold outside, he develop l ed a severe case of sciatic rheuma- 1 tism, which necessitated his dis 1 charge.
 i He could not speak good English i and his education had been very Hm- | tied in Greece, but he had an ambi- i ton to become an American business l man.
 l The federal board concluded to give 1 him a thorough course in a business
 college, and he is now in a Washing l ton institution and making very re- | markable progress, according to the 1 reports of his instructors. His Eng | fish Is as good as that of the average l American today. He writes a good | letter, handles the typewriter well 1 and has a remarkable facility for ac- i quiring business knowledge Already ! he has been offered several good po-
 sitions which he has wisely declined,
 intending to continue until his busi-
 ness education is first class in every respect.
 Men who have gone into business
 life under the handicap from injur- 1 ies suffered in the army and have
 found the burden too great are still
 entitled to this free reTaining and by
 addressing the federal board for vo- | cationa1 education, at Washington, 1 will be given all necessary informa- | ton and assistance