Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-25
RAYMOND c. kOON
On Vocational TRAINING

On vocational training
T IFTlNG men out of the ruts of i'm
LprOpcr and insufficient training and
setting them on their feet on the road to n
moro successful life is only part of the vast
work undertaken by the federal board of
vocational training as viewed by Raymond
c. Koon, 1927 Ruscomb street
AS an instructor in the school for dis
abled soldiers at the Spring Garden 1nsti-
tutC. Mr.. kOon has had unusual experience
in the task of directing and helping former
service men in the choice of u lifcwork.
Here are his views:
''Thc men generally have latent desire
for some vocation and buried possibility
of success in an applicable lifework which
must first be brought to the surface and
then developed. 1t has been proved in
vast number Of cases that which seems to
be the correct deduction OF the problem at
first Is really foreign to the real. successful
deduction that will follow as the findings
of careful study of these cases.
Machnist's Helper
For example, We can cite tho case of
man who has spent considerable time in
any given trade without the basic education
necessary for advancement in that trade.
The maChniSt's helper is n fair example
of this. Now we find this same man,
who would fill this above class, with vision
of development into some higher grade Of
mechanical work. or to some executive
capacity allied with his original vocation.
"lic has been advised by his friends his
former fellow employees and others, each
according to his own ideas, and before
long his aspiration has taken the form Of
possible leaps and bounds to an enormous
job, lot Of money. and in all. only pos
sblitics. lie appeals to the board for
training, and in his preliminary interviews
definitely scopes his ideas and possibly his
ideals. lie probably insists upon some
training whose thorough ACCOMPLISHMENT
would take six or seven years solid appl
cation with little or no remuneration other
than that furnished by the government
"llr may ask for and insist upon train
ing upon the lines Of mechanical engineer
ing, or some similar tcchniraity, and his
advisers will agree some part of mechanical
engineering courses which he requests will
assist the man with his former work and
better fit him to advance along his original
lines of vocation. The man starts his
studies in those parts of the courses de-.
lgnatCd to him as best for his condition.
Unrest Takes Place
soon hc finds the spirit Of dissatisfac.
tUn and unrest has taken the place of his
original vigor, lie grindS at the preliminary
phases of mathematics, and labors with the
elementary classes in drafting and npplird
mechanics. and before long is mlserably dis.
guSt"d bccaus" he claims to be getting mo-
where.
"Thcn his disgust shapes itself into com.
plant, which is voiced to the directors Of
ms training. II" secs only that he is doing
things that to thoroughly complete would
INK" NOR" time than he has been allotted
Tor training, and he asks for changes I'm his
plans and revision Of his COURSES as outlined
Her" Is the opportunity to make clear TO
him the real purpose Of his training, pro.
Nld"d thIt Cl"urncSS was not originally ac-
C0mpli>hcd
Then il is that the man can be shown
that, though he will get only Iart of the
iuIInrSN Of technical education, yet the
part he receives will make him so adcpt in
ms original vocation as to place him in line
for unboundod advancement and it is nos :
SbIe then to satisfy the man To such dc =
gre" Il" will still work and grind M his
prescribed studies, and accomplish the origi :
nal purpose.
'"rruc, there will be- number of coscs
Whcr" the original vocation has then foun
dation and a firm hold and n partially
trained mind coupled with the given train
ing, viii develop with grWter rapidity and
show the student he can pass far in adj l..
yanc" Of the original courses as laid Ont
for him. but these cases are the unusunI
But thcr" Is the case whore the stipulation
Of individual instruction as planned by tho
Federal Board is most effective, and
although hes" cases are in the minority,
III" man should be, and is carried far ms
IL possible with the original instructors. and
then. If tim" will permit, the man is nd .
van"cd to higher grades and Higher classes
10 allow aS nearly completion of his
studies Ms possible.
Up 10 Administrators
I'm brief, tn" ultimate results attained
III the Application of original training tl
the present given training rests with the
administrators OF the Instruction. There
fore, the more practical application OF the