The Republican., 1945-08-09
TO
DISCUSS MINING
COURSES IS Held
Extension of Vocational Work in
Mining Industry Is Held
Probable by Leaders

Discussion Of methods Of vocational
education in Pennsylvania, Maryland
and West Virginia leading to the cs-
tablshment Of vocational education
courses in the mining industry. high
lighted the conference of mine opera
tors, labor representatives and cdu-
Gators, held in Oakland Tuesday and
Wednesday,
The meeting was sponsored by tn"
United States Office of Education, the
Maryland State Department of Edu-
cation and the University of Mary
land,
Specific aims of the proposed voca-
tional program which are already be-
ing carried on to some extent in Pcnn-
sylvania and West Virginia, are TO
train young men in high schools for
mining inspectors, foremcn, mechanics.
by providing courses in maintenance
of machinery, ventilation, drainage,
safety and first aid. Education in this
field in Maryland thus far is limited
mostly to night mining classes and
extension courses, mainly for adults,
Discussion leader was John J. Sci
del, assistant state superintendent OF
vocational education, who outlined the
organization of agricultural efforts on
the part of miners to supplement their
income in the postwar period to offset
any future depression period.
Mr. Seidcl said this conference was
more or less preliminary to d second
one which will be held in about four
months, and at which definite de-
cisions will be reached.
With the mining industry fast he
coming entirely mechanical MARY
land leaders were of the opinion that
an increased program of vocational
training would be essential. In con-
nection with supplemcnting the in
come of miners, G. A. McGarvcy,
agent, trade and industrial education,
U. S. Office of Education, outlined the
development Of arts and crafts among
miners in the New England states.
l. n Rifle, supervising principal
of Monongahela township, Mapletown,
Pa, gave statistics showing the large
percentage Of boys in mining commun-
tiles who go into the mines to work
Courses in mining started there in
1899 in connection with the high school
and is being termed the Pennsylvania
guinea pig If proved successful there
it will be developed in other parts of
the state. A survey of freshman boys
who started to school in 1930-31
showed that So percent went into min
ing, and similar survey conducted
in 1914 showed 65 percent. with that
large percentage going into an indus
try the schools are certainly justified
in giving vocational training in mining
methods and mining mechanics. He
outlined the type of work carried on
in his classes which included shop
work and related mining.
W. B. Connolly, state supervisor OF
trade and industrial education, West
Virginia, outlined the West Virginia
program. Vocational training is given
there for three years in connection
with the high schools for mine main
tenance mechanics, to fit young men
Is to Is for the mechanical mine in
dustry. Fifty percent of their time is
in actual shop work and the remainder
in regular high school curriculum, he
said, and asserted that the young men
of the mining communities are eager
for the training
Contributions made by vocational
education to the mining industry was
given on Wednesday by Dr.. John J.
Rutledge, chief mine engineer, Mary
land Bureau of Mines
Development of day trade prepar-
atory programs for the coal mining in
dustry was discussed on Wednesday
with both Mr.. Connolly and Glen d.
Brown, assistant state director for vo-
cational education. participating. Scv-
eral committees were appointed, a
steering committee, one on organiza-
ton procedures, one ON mStructional
materials, and one on plant and equip.
ment facilities.