The Connecticut labor news., 1923-01-05

boys and girls to earn their liveli- hood is making fast strides in our pub lie schools system, reports Harry L. Fidler of Indianapolis, labor member and vice-chairman of the Federal Board for Vocational Education. In the report of the board to Con- gress for the fiscal year ending June 3oth, 1922, total enrolment of 475,- 82S students in the Federal-a1ded Vocational Schools is reported. This compares with 324,247 the total of just one year ago. The gain for the year was I5I,58I students, or approxi- mately 40 per cent.
 In the same I2 month period the number of federal-aided vocational schools increased from 3,877 to 4,o45 the present total. Under the provis- ions of the Vocational Education Act, the federal funds go to the public schools administered directly by state and local school authorities, who match the federal grant, dollar for No federal money goes to private schools.
 The Trade Union movement can take especial pride in the growth of the federal vocational system, inas-
 
 Labor was largely responsible for the ated the federal board for vocational education.
 In the movement which preceded this congressional act, the American Federation of Labor was a pioneer factor. As far back as 1907, the an- nual convention of the A. F. of L. went on record in favor of vocational education, and this resolution was re- iterated in the 1908, 1909, 1910 and 1911 conventions. In 1908 the A. F. of L. appointed a special committee to make a study of vocational educa- ton. The investigation and report of this committee had a wide effect nj crystalizing public sentiment in favor of federal action. Agnes Nestor was appointed to represent the American Federation of Labor on the commis- sion on national aid to vocational edu- cation, created by Congress January 20, 1914. The work of this comnis- sion paved the way to the final en- actment of the vocational education act of February g, 1917.
 According to the act, of the three full time members of the board, one membership is given to a representa-
  representing agriculture, and manu- facture and commerce, respectively. H. L. Fidler, the present labor mem Der, is a member and former officer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers In addition, the secretar- ies of labor, agriculture and commerce and the United States commis sioner of education are members of the board.
 Unstinting cooperation has been given by the Labor unions to the local school authorities wherever the fed eral-state vocational system has been introduced. It is realized by the trade unionists that the vocational school system now being developed | will offer the boys and girls the same start in life that was once given by | the apprenticeship system. In the passing of the apprenticeship system, the duty of trade education has de- xolved upon the public schools. Through the development of voca- tional education, far-sighted unionists see the possibility of revival of la bor skill and dignity.
 There IS also a moral reason which has inclined the trade union move ment toward the continuation school system. Trade unionists believe that the 12,ooo,o 900 boys and girls of school age who, according to the census of 1920, were reported as "out of school" are just as much entitled to public school assistance as the 2I,oOo,ooo who can afford to attend the all-day schools. This assistance , should whenever desired, take the form of training in the vocation which they have chosen for their life work Un- der the vocational program of the fed eral act, the public schools bring this