Evening star., 1933-12-24

which WIN aid in earning a living and
in conserving and Strengthening the
morale Of the Using generation.
For many If the 250000 young men
In the camps the new educational pro-
gram gram viii represent a golden oppor-
education broken of when increasing
unemployment made further schooling
impossible. For some of the youths the
new plan will mean an opportunity to
study high school and college subjects
which, If mastered in the forest camps,
will serve to shorten the time 1t would
take to complete high school or college
courses If further formal schooling be-
comes possible at some later date. To
others the program will represent an
opportunity TO learn trade, to learn
something about forestry. agriculture
or some other subject which will be
use1ul when their life in the forestry
camps is over.
DIR. Zook Heads Committee.
Dr. zook will head an advisory COM
mlttee composed of two Army ofhcers,
one OF whom will be Brig. Gen. Andrew
Moses, assistant chief of staff person.
mel OF the War Department, the director
OF forest service of the Department of
Agriculture, the assistant director, Office
OF national parks, buildings and reser-
vations OF the Interior Department; W.
Frank Persons, chief of the United
States Employment Service of the
Labor Department and an assistant di-
rector emergency conservation work
This committee is to meet from time to
time and make such recommendations
to the Office of education regarding the
educational program as may be neces-
sary.
1t is anticipated that it will cost
approximately 81 100000 to operate the
program for four months.
THE effect of the present plan will
be to organize an educational program
suited to the needs of the men," DR..
Iook said. In each camp there Will
be an educational adviser. Under the
supervision Of the camp commanders, he
will be responsible for organizing such
group discussions. special lee
lures and individual instructions as the
men need and desire.
For the most part it is expected that
the methods of instruction will be in
formal in character. Wherever feasible,
vocational work will be stressed. This
will be especially true of agriculture and
forestry. Advice as to future vocational
will be merged into the
program. Opportunities for the devel-
opment of interest along general lines
will also be given.
The educational adviser cannot do
everything himself. but it is expected
that aid from neighboring schools, Ii
braries and colleges will be freely
available
THE educational program in tie
camps has great possibilities 1t is a
part OF the general movement toward
adult education which is sweeping the
A program of education for the camps
is by no means a novel feature of camp
life, except in its scope and organiza-
ton. Since the early beginning OF the
c. C. C. it has been felt by many camp
and other officials that
these young men should be given the
to make up the education
which many were deprived OF through
the depression or circumstances. In
more than SO per cent of the camps.
various informal types of educational
activity have been scheduled for some
Of the evenings. Their introduction into
the camps was occasioned by two cir
cunstances: First. the desire on the
amplify and make more interesting the
work being done on the field and, sec-
ond. the desire evidenced by the men
themselves to learn about certain things.
Program in Four CIassifications.
These two motives, which have char
acterized the nature of the instruction
which was offered in the camps during
the first enrolment period and the be-
ginning of the second, will undoubtedly
color the program adapted under the
new system.
The briefest study of the educational
activities that have been carried out
in camps all over the country under the
Of camp commanders or
work superintendents reveals that they
resolve themselves into four definite
These are: Instruction
in forestry, vocational training, elemen-
tary education for illiterates and classes
in general subjects.
One type of instruction is practically
where men enter the camps
unable to read or write, immediate steps
have been taken to teach them. In all
instances the condition has
been eliminated. Next to the elementary
training in forestry is by far
the most common type of instruction.
This Is not surprising since the men are
eager to know why they are
doing the particular task they are work.
ing on and the varieties of trees near
the camps.
To answer these questions, the camp
superintendents frequently hold In.
formal sessions, in which they discuss
such subjects as plant, tree, insect and
reptile identification, local topography
and practical workmanship, which are
often amplifed by field trips. When
the opportunity is available, an outside
speaker Is invited to lecture.
Practical Training Offered.
To carry out one Of the major aims
Of the c. c. c., every opportunity Is
taken to encourage the men to learn
vocations they are interested in. Far
from obtained textbook knowledge, the
men learn these trades by actual prac-
tice In the camp. Thus, practical les
sons are given in cooking, baking. truck
and tractor driving and operation, car
pentry, clerking, typing and stenog-
raphy.
Finally. regular class room work is