Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-11-20
HELENA SCHOOL
TRAINING MANY
FOR WAR TASKS
MORE THAN SEQ N MONTANA
sCHOOLED FOR JOBS IN
INDUSTRY

sCHOOLED FOR JOBS IN
INDUSTRY
More than 5000 Montanans have
been trained for Jobs in industry
through the Helena school OF aeron-
autics and related trades since Its In
ception as a single course under the
Helena school system.
Until a year ago. the school was
financed by the Helena school dis
trict and from tuition fees trans
ferred to Lewis and Clark county by
the home counties Of students sent
here. and with grants from various
federal agencies A year ago. however,
the school was designated defense
emergency school by the federal gov
eminent. which took over virtually
its entire operation and expense.
The school. largest and best
equipped of its kind in Montana,
started as a course offered by the
Helena high school The severe earth
quakes of 1885 drove the classes from
their quarters in the old Central
school. and they were moved temper
arily to a vacant hangar at the city
airport. When the Helena schools
were rebuilt, $4,000 was allocated for
a small building at the airport to
house the classes and their equip
ment.
In 1887 the legislature approved a
measure permitting the state board OF
education 10 designate state centers
for vocational training, which were to
be neither high schools nor colleges,
but which we're to devote themselves
to training youths and girls under 81
in specific vacations. The Helena
school was designated such center
and started developing its courses In
aeronautics and related trades. Until
the war emergency the local school
made no attempt to go outside this
field. giving courses only in the
mechanical side of aeronautics, air
plane shop work. sheet metal working,
instruction in machine shop opera
lions. radio. and welding. Other voca-
tional education centers were desis-
mated at Miles City and Glasgow. but
were not developed to the extent of
the local school.
In 1899 the Helena school district
another bond issue, for
$4,000. to put up larger building for
the training school and provide equip
ment. Funds also were obtained from
the national youth administration,
WPA, United States employment SER
vice, the United States vocational
education division, and branches of
the army and navy.
Under the 1887 law, tuition of stu
dents enrolled at the school from
outside Lewis and Clark county was
transferred to the credit of the
school, relieving the local school dis
trict of an unfair proportion of sup
porting what actually was state
wide institution.
w, F. CBilD Fahrner was assigned to
teach the first classes in vocational
when 1t was merely one
course offered by Helena high school.
He became principal Of the trades
school when it developed from its
small beginnings and has headed 1t
since. Fahrner shortly will be called
to active service with the army and
will be succeeded as head of the
school by Charles MacCharles, former
Great Falls man who has been as
ISOLATED with him at the school for
several years.
ollldll IAAS oNAAoSA
has developed into an institution with
q plant and equipment valued at more
than 100000. 1t currently has a reg
istration Of $50 students and 10 in
structors Glasses are operated on a
24-hour basis to accommodate those al
ready employed but anxious to learn
more about their trades or new ones.
The schools peak enrolment was
$50 students and "a instructors, but
has been dropping gradually the last
few years.
The Helena school districts con-
tribution for its operations last year
before the government took over the
school, was 5000, and the balance Of
the cost came from transferred tuition
fees and federal grants.
Until a year ago half the salaries
Of instructors was paid by the federal
government.
Is Scarce
Officials of the school said they
doubted whether similar institutions
could be set up in other Montana COM
at least for the duration Of
the war. Payne Templeton, Helena
city superintendent Of schools, said it
would be virtually impossible to obtain
equipment for new schools, and that
the Helena school was developed to 1t
present extent because 1t had a head
start and received the cooperation of
the various federal agencies.
Currently, Templeton said, a plan is
under consideration to close the NYA
school located at the state fairgrounds
except for that portion devoted to
shop work, and to merge
other courses with the airport school.
He said such a move, If approved,
might free some aeronautics and
other equipment for a specialized
school In some other city. He said the
NYA school had an enrolment Of
about 100 students, half Of them
girls.
Shortly, he said, the airport school
will start training "apprentice-learn-
ers" for the Great Falls air depot and
other military stations under the
United States civil service program.
The students will be paid while tax
ing the courses, intended to last about
II weeks. and at the conclusion Of