Evening star., 1946-11-01
0n-Job Training
Recheck for
D. {. Protested
School Bourd Calls
On VA to Clarity
Duties in Survey 4s.
BY George Beveridge


The District Board of Education
has protested the Veterans Admin
istration's instructions to recheck
on -the-job training program in the
District, The Star learned today.
The recheck, to determine wheth-
er institutions and employers here
meet new national standards" OF
was ordered in a letter to
the board on August l3. The stand
ards were established by Congress.
The letter inclosed copy Of the
law and asked that the board fur
nish results of the re-evaluation by
January /. The law came after
Veterans Administrator Bradley
urged tightened restrictions to avert
"a national scandal in the pro-
grams.
Rechecking Not Started.
So far, however, the board has not
begun any demonstrations of the
estimated 1,400 training programs
affected here, according to Hobart
M. Corning, superintendent OF
schools.
DR.. Corning said the law was
very vague" and that the board
requested Qualification" of its duties
in a letter sent october Is to Gen.
Bradley through the Commissioners.
The letter was forwarded by the
Commissioners last week, spokes-
man said,
The superintendent pointed out
that the boards only previous func-
ton has been to grant initial ap-
proval for programs to begin and
not to carry on periodic checks. He
added he wasn't sure "how much of
the supervision is in our jurisdic-
tion,'' and protested that the new
instructions place a legal respon-
sibility beyond mere approval
Although the August 13 letter was
acknowledged. no other steps were
taken until October Is, he said.
Extra Personnel Hinted.
The Veterans Administration let
ter also asked the board to submit
estimates Of expenses necessary to
hire additional personnel to inves-
tigate the training. N. R. Henson,
assistant education chief of the
agency, said the board has sub
mitted no requests.
While DR.. Corning told reporter
the financial question was mot an
issue" another official of the board
who has been in direct contact with
the programs declared the lack of
funds was primarily responsible for
the boards failure to begin the
investigations.
And we're ready to go ahead as
soon as we can get money to hire
Investigators" he declared.
He estimated the board would need
IL employees besides the two in
vestigators on the payroll now.
The official also predicted the re-
cent training limitations will cut
down participation considerably, -
but said he didn't expect to find
many sub-standard conditions in ef-
feet here. -
"We have worked closely with the
Veterans Administration in approv-
ing the original programs" he said,
adding that the board has had to re-
examine only three of the programs
approved.
Some Estimates on Hand
To aid in the approvals. however,
teachers and department heads here
have given some 1000 hours Of
volunteer time, he said
Meanwhile, the Veterans Admin
istration said cost estimates for ad-
ministering the program from
several States are now before Gen.
Bradley for approval
On the basis of these estimates,
States will be reimbursed monthly
according to money spent for SAL
aries of investigators and their
travelling expenses, Mr.. Henson said.
He added that while letters Of In
struction were sent to all States on
August 13, the agency has "aband-
oned hope" of receiving many sur
vey results by January l.
The on-the-job restrictions limit
training to two years. Among the
standards which must be policed by
approving agencies are determina-
ton of:
Adequate training. reasonable
certainty" of an available job when
the training is completed; pay dur
ing training at a customary wage
level and detailed studies of train
ing schedules for each program.
Regular apprenticeship training
and courses for disabled veterans are
exempt from the close restrictions.
Veterans Warned to Report.
In the meantime, veterans In
school or taking job training were
warned by the VA today that they
must submit reports of monthly
earnings to the VA by Tuesday or
face suspension of future subsis-
tence checks until the reports are
made.
Subsistence allowances will be adj
justed according to the reports to
comply with pay ceilings established
for trainees, and students under
the program. Under the limitation,
no allowance will be paid veterans
without dependents who are earn
ing as much as SITS a month or
married veterans earning 5000.
|. The Veterans Administration
warned that all participants of the
program must report actual earn
ings for August, September and
October, even If they are not af-
fected by the ceilings.
District trainees and students
should mail reports to the Wash
ington regional office, 800 Indiana
avenue NV.