The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-16

The responsibility OF reha bilitating
the men who sacrificed their health in
the World war rests upon the federal
government. IN 1918 congress gave
the Federal Board for vocational
Education this obligation to discharge
and in that year it established four
teen district offices One OF these
district offices was located at St
Louis.
Local Office In Topeka.
Topeka was one of the twelve points
IN the St Louis district to be picked
for a local office OF the board, which
was established February 81, 1921 AT
the present time it is only beginning
to take up the full volume Of work
that it has to do. The greatest accom-
pIishments lie before it
In the states Of Iowa. Nebraska,
Kansas and Missouri. which are in the
St Louis district. there are at the
present time more than 5000 disabled
ex-service men being trained for civil
ian employment under the direction
of the Federal Board for Vocational
Education OF this number. eighty
are suffering disabilities resulting from
major amputations.
Face Many Problems.
Officials Of the Federal Board for
Vocational Education face many prob
lens in helping these men who have
ton fSr which they can be trained.
First he is. asked to state his prefer
ence. II the preference is compatible
with his disability, and II he has SUI
ficient education and Industrial expert
ence to form a suitable foundation
upon which TO build. a decision Is
easily reached. Il is true, however,
that the majority OF the men have no
preference. and it is then necessary to
suggest n number of possible voca-
tons and assist the choice.
Another difficulty that often &C.
ours is in the case OF men who have
an earnest desire for professional
training, but have an education SC
limited that many years would be re-
quired to acquire credits enough to
even enter the course. Frequently the
man will give preference to a vocation
that is not compatible with his dis
abilities. only to be disappointed when
he finds that his choice was not the
wisest one.
A Variety OF Vacations.
Despite the many problems that
these men have had to face the eighty
who lost arms or legs are being
trained in variety of vocationE and
almost without exceptions they are
working with a determined effort tC
make good.
Fifty-one OF these men lost a les
or a foot in the service. Before en-.
had an average education OF eight ana
one-halt years. They were employed
at an average of s9S.7G a month il
thirty different occupations. Thes'
same men are now being trained II
twenty-eight vocations that viii pro
vide suitable employment upon com
pletion at a higher rate Of pay. not
withstanding their liabilities.
In the Topeka territory there ar
1000 disabled men. OF this numbe
AGO are now in training under the su
pervision of the local office OF tn
Federal Board for Vocational Educa
ton. and 31s will enter the training
within the next three months. Fiv
men have completed the training IN
der local supervision and are satisfac
torily employed. OF the number Il
training. SIS are in Topeka and 225 ar
in Manhattan at the Kansas Stat
Agricultural college.
The responsibility rests with the fed
eraI government. but Topeka is inter
ested because an institution that train
her citizens to life work that make
them useful to society. and provide
maintenance while doing it. is an asse
to the city as well as the country a
large.