Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-01-06
BIG INCREASE
in INVOCATIONAL
TRAINING HERE


A tremendous growth in vocational
education has been recorded through
out Arizona during the past few
years, according to report fur
nished the Arizona industrial con-
gress by Halbert w. Miller, assistant
supervisor of the state department
of vocational education.
Enrolment in the various day.,
evening and part-time classes has
shown decided increase in the
four years ending June 30, 1925. In
1923 enrolment in the state-aided
vocational classes was only 1880,
while by the end of the school year
in 1926 the total number of people
awaiting themselves of the oppor-
tunities offered by the department.
of vocational education had reached
a total OF 9,S06. These figures are
only for students in schools which
received reimbursement for. the
teachers salaries from state and
federal funds; classes which do not
meet the standards of state and fed-
eral requirement are not included in
the report.
Nv
ceiving the benefits of state super
vised vocational education has in
creased more than five times, the
state appropriation for the four-year'
period has remained Approximately
the same. the report shows. Per
capita cost of students in 1928
amounted to $57.44; in 1926 per capita
cost has been reduced to SILL. The
policy of spreading the vocational
training program to many sections
of the state instead of few of the
larger cities has been responsible for
the very large reduction in educa-
tional training costs. This per capita
cost also includes all administration
costs, teacher training and teachers
salaries, and denotes the amount re-
imbursed to schools.
Vocational work in smaller COM
munities has in number of eases
attracted many families because OF
the educational advantages drought
to them, Miller stated 1t is mani
festly evident that people will not
raise families where educational IA
cilities are not up to standard ana
the money provided for the work o.
the vocational education department
hy state funds now enables commu
mites that hitherto were not in a
position to provide vocational tram
inc to give better educational oppor7
.tunities.
The rapid Industrial development
of Arizona has greatly increased the
demand Cor trained and educated
labor. Agriculture and business or
ganizations must have trained work
ers, and the making of homes re-
ouires skill and a knowledge OF
things domestic. Vocational educa-
ton fields include the preparation
for these three important occupations
as the main courses offered to the.
public. For the year ending June
80, 1926, 1898 students were enrolled
in the trade and industrial courses;
I5,218 enrolled for home making and
!2,595 in the agricultural section.
There are now 1b7 schools having
vocational training classes with Il
total of PA instructors and grand
total of 9,SO6 people, in all the
various classes have been reached
by the department
The cooperation and interest or
various state and national organ:za-
tions has largely made possible the
remarkable growth and development
of the vocational program. The
farm bureau sponsored the co-opeN
ative marketing course conducted by
the state department. The trade and
industrial courses were assisted TO
considerable extent by the state
advisory committee composed of rep
resentatives of the larger mining
companies The work mas also re-
ceived the recognition of the United
States Chamber of Commerce ana
support of the State Farent-Teacher
association, industrial congress mad
other bodies.