The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-05-05


cational education. Washington, ID. &.
in Engineering and Mining Journal
The disabled soldiers who learn and
practice the profession of mining en-
gineering will probably be as efficient
as the civilian students In fact
something gained during the war
may prove an additional asset The
government and employers are part
ners in the job. If the employer does
not take an active, critical interest
and a partners interest in this work.
and do his part, the government will
fail. Engineers represent the big
employers 1t is hoped that many OF
them will see what they can do TO
stimulate and educate employers, and
offer to the board such constructive
criticism as they think will be for the
best interests of the disabled soldiers.
First consider the general features
of the job. The task of rehabiitating
|eN-service men who have a voca-
tional handicap was assigned to the
federal board for vocational educa-
ton more than two years ago The
enabling act is quite clear in its in
tent For those who are in the judg-
ment of the board. vocationally han
dicapped the board is obligated ITO
do all things necessary to insure vo-
cational rehabilitation; to provide for
the placement of rehabilitated persons
in suitable and gainful occupation"
To achieve this purpose it devolves
upon the board to select an employ
mcnt objective for each disabled SOL
der who is eligible and who desires
training. and train him until he has
sufficient mastery of his new voca-
ton to command the average wages.
In at least 80 per cent of the Occupa-
tons for which disabled soldiers are
being trained this acid test of re-
Mobilization can be applied. because |
the average wage "at starting" is de- /
terminable. In the other 10 per cent /
the application of the principle is /
merely "a matter of common sense
Problem Was First Underestimated |
One Of the important pioneers in /
this educational work thought the .
board might have to train $4,000 men,
1t is clear that little was known
about the size of the job at the start
when this figure is compared with the
$4,000 who have already entered
After two years it is still
difficult to form a reliable estimate
An increasing number of men are be-
coming eligible for training because
of disability traceable to service. This
is the big joker in the problem The
oretically any one of the four million
oX-service men may develop dis
ability traceable to the service and
be eligible for training under the
present law.
No time limit has thus far been
fixed within which applications must
be made Every man is entitled to
training, including books and supplies
It he is receiving compensation; also
Il he has a vocational handicap he is
entitled TO receive subsistence pay. /.
This pay is $50 to 500 per month. and
more in case Of dependents Only
small percentage of the men eligible
Tor training without pay accept 1t is
10 them only a tantalizing Offer de-
void of substance. on the other hand
1 large percentage of the men eigi-
Die for training with pay do accept
The number OF men who apply and
he number of men who will accept, ;
f eligible, and if training is feasible, I
depends largely upon employment {
If unemployment in }
.reases. the number who accept the =
raining will increase; if it contracts, 7
large number viii decline training, h
if the wages offered are i
n excess of training pay. At present "
here is a strong tendency to liberal
ze the present law and give men With b
10 per cent disability training with i.
ay This will have a stimulating eff q
ect on both applications and accept 2
noes. C
Total Cost About $4,000 Per Man. e
How much is it going to cost? The a
aiming is an individual matter, and a
INST continue, within reason. until a e.
lans employment objective has been a
cached. Consequently on account of b
If'erences of preparation for a defin- al
G employment objective, together a
18th differences in energy ability and e.
her qualities, the time element is al
ard to determine Perhaps the time al
training will average two years, c'
cluding those who train for short b'
zriods and those who are discontin- ii
cd because they will not profit by al
Ieir training The monthly cost of
ainees, including II per cent over
sad is $40 An approximate figure m
$4,000 for a two-years' course gives oil
me idea of the cost d.
SO many indeterminate factors en- p
r into the problem of the total Oh
imber of men involved that it is az
lpossible even to guess what the to- W
! cost will be. AS to the kind of eI
achinery and equipment used, the o
,ard faced two choices: to use ex- ia
ting educational plants, or to build &C
wv ones. It was determined to use nj
listing plants; first, because they SC
ere ready and the men clamored to NJ