Evening star., 1938-10-20
WORKERIRA|N|NG''
|SPLANNEDB BY s.
Education Office to Guide
Ambitious Program for
Public Employees.

Recognizing the need Of more EN-.
cheney in public service, the Govern
ment is preparing to embark on an
ambitious training program that will
reach all the way down to municipal
and county employees, John w. Stude-
baker, United States commissioner Of
education, today told the Civil Service
Assembly Of United States and Canada.
Sketching briefly tthe plan. which
has gone but little beyond the forma-
tive stage, the commissioner disclosed
that new unit is to be set up in the
Once Of Education to guide this work
and to correlate efforts of Federal,
State and local governments In carry.
ing it out among their 5000 900 em-
ployes.
Declaring that there are many prac-
tical problems to be faced and that
"A gigantic task Of curriculum making
is involved" Mr.. Studebaker warned
that the program will have to get
away from theory and stick to reali-
ties. 1T must keep its feet on the ,
ground or it won't work" he empha-
sized; 1T must not become academic
in that sense" Mr.. Studebaker said
that "one OF the most hopeful Signs"
in the country today is the growing
interest that is being taken in public
affairs, and he added that it is up to-
those who are interested TO seek to
enlist the highest type of personnel
in the conduct Of public business and
then see that proper training is pro-
vded for these.
He recalled that under the George
Deem Act limited Federal funds are
made available to each State for en-
ploying teachers in public service, and
he urged the members Of the Assembly
to see that use is made of this money.
The Office of education, Commits
sioner Studebaker said, will start the
new program as soon as the Official
who is to direct it is on the ground.
Working with the director will be an
advisory committee. and in the budget
for the fiscal year 1910 provision Is
to be sought for about four field work.
ers to serve as liaison between
Federal and local governments.
Pointing to the growing number OF
educational institutions which are Of
fering special work for employees IN
governmental services. Arthur S. Flem-
ing. director of the School OF Public
Affairs OF American University, told the
assembly that successful completion of
these in-service training courses should
not be recognized by the employing
establishments as fulfilling formal re.
quirements for promotion.
No Advantage Asked.
THE Government employe who par.
ticipates in in-service training courses
should not automatically be provided
with any competitive advantage" he
amplified. Instead he should be
asked to compete on an equal basis
with employees who may or may not
have raised their standard of per.
formance by other means. The results
should speak for themselves. II, other
things being equal. the in-service train
ing courses do not put the employe in
a position where he can demonstrate
superior ability. then he is wasting
time. energy and money, and the uni
versity Is not doing the job 1t should
do"
In another talk before the assembly,
at Wardman Park Hotel, Milton Hall,
chief OF the training section Of th&
Farm Credit Administration, discussed
the savings possible by instructing Of
nee forces in proper methods Of letter
writing, and told the results along this
line obtained at the F. c. A.
Figuring the cost of the average
letter in the average agency at rs
cents. Mr.. Hall said that by appro-
pirate training, this can be reduced at
least IS cents.
Among the practices which training
corrects, he listed wordiness, incon-
sequential detail and inappropriate
tone"
The annual dinner of the assembly
will be held tonight at the Mayfover
Hotel. The speakers will be MURRAY
w. Latimer, chairman of the Railroad
Retirement Board. and Ordway Tead.
editor Of economic books for Harper a.
Bros. The convention ends tomorrow.