Evening star., 1923-04-29
NATION ACTS TO END ACUTE
SKILLED LABOR. SHORTAGE
Employers Associations, Unions and
U. S. Government Aid Schools
to Train Apprentices.


actual existing need for apprentices
in Massachusetts. $50: in Michigan
800; in New Jersey, 1888: in Colorado.
Island. 1s7; s in 7tsi Connecticut. ; sss: in
Pennsylvania. 2204, and In the Dis
trict of Columbia 1O2-to give hop
jump: illustrations.
U. 5. Sees n Dozen.
- While the trade associations are try
ing to work oat their own salvation.
the federal government has recognized
this grave menace to Industrial pros
perity and the general welfare. With
this actual :need for apprentices
brought into the spotlight by the ac-
tion of the trade associations. the Fed
eral Board for Vocational Education
and the United States Bureau of Edu
cation, through cooperation with the
states, are promoting trade courses for
employed young people. not only in the
building trades, but in all other indus
trial and commercial training.
The action by the federal agencies
is not only to meet the immediate
needs. which the trade aSSociatiC...r
are already working to meet. but to be
prepared for the gradual and orderly
growth of trade and industrial activi
ties. Not only. is vocational work in
the schools being enlarged, but trade
teachers are being trained for this
school work, as for example, in Massa-
chusetts, where teacher training in in
dustrfal education is conducted by the
state board.
Survey Shows Growth.
An examination of the enrolment in
classes reimbursed from federal trade
and industrial funds for the country
as whole during a five-year period
reveals the following growth:
During 1918 there were enrolled in
trade ard Industrial classes 1884
pupils. During 1919 there were en-
rolled In trade and industrial even
ing, part-time and all-day schools
S4,16o pupils. while in general con-
tlnuation schools there were enroll
ed 5o.1s2, making total enrolment
IN all types of classes reimbursed
| from trade and Industrial funds of
, loo,oS4.. In 1920 there was an enroll
ment of S6,737 pupils in trade and
industrial schools and 9s,0s2 in the
general continuation schools. or a
total enrolment of 1S4,Sl9 pupils. In
1921 trade and industrial schools en-
rolled .97,S43 pupils. while general
continuation schools gave training to
1867 boys and girls. making the
trial schools 217,500 pupils Enroll
meht reported for 1922 in federalIy
aided trade and industrial schools
total l3l.S'7 and in the general CON
OO,t1 l.,
total enrolment in classes admins
tered and reimbursed by the trade
and Industrial service of 297.7SS pu-
pills. These figures indicate continu-
Gus growth of the work in all lines
during the tive-year period. although
the effects of the world war are in
evidence.
OF course. it must be understood
that the feleral bureaus are working
through the states, and so it is well
q p Ian hnr
the trade and Industrial education
work done in the states:
I9.S23 Enrolled.
observation-disclosures the year;
! there: were reimbursed in part from
federal funds evening schools in %
cities part-time schools in 81 cities
and a1l-day schools in 10 cities. with
a total enrolment of 1888 pupils !
Reimbursement was also made to AZ |
cities for general continuation york. |
with an enrolment of 22.361 pupils.
Michigan - Twelve cities offered |
evening classes to an enrolment of |
6,7S2, part-time trade extension !
courses were conducted in IL cities. |
with an enrolment of 1928 pupils /
6 cities conducted 21 all-day unit |
trade courses. with an enrolment of !
47O; general continuation courses !
were offered in cities. with an en-
rollnent of els; and the teacher
training institution enrolled a total !
of 7O5 in resident and extension !;
courses.
Ohio-Twenty- cities reported 26 i
schools. with an enrolment of 3146, |
giving general continuation or trade !
extension part-time training to those |
who have withdrawn from all-day /
schools. An evening school program |
in related and shop subjects was con-
Quoted in 3S schools of Sc cities. |
Ohio is carrying out an excellent !
program of foreman training, with !
the support of Ohio manufacturers, as |
one of the biggest avenues to the pro- /
motion of other types of industrial |
education. Ohio has also developed a !
large program in coal mining instruc- |
ton, with 250 miners enrolled in a |
course covering 40 weeli1 mine
gases, mine ventilation, timbering
and safety lamps. Ohio probably has
gone farther than any other state in |
part-time education through CO.
operation between the schools and the |
manufacturers.
These are illustrations picked by !
chance, but practically all of the I
states are enlarging their trade and
industrial education work. Leaders |
in the next Congress are going TO
broaden the federal cooperation and |
make possible a larger trade apSren- |
tiee education by increasing the ap
preparation for this work, because
while in their home districts they are !
having it's Importance brought fore |
IDLY to their attention. |