Montana labor news., 1949-03-24
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
OFFERS UNE0UALLED SERVICES

/ ms program, under Snarles 4.
Davis, coordinator Vocation Train
ing Butte Public Schools, offers
a service to the people OF this
friendly Mining City that is un-
equalled anywhere in the state
Better craftsmen with high standards
OF Workmanship are trained for de-
pendable service TO the consumers
OF this locality. Furthermore, the
tradesmen themselves appreciate the
advantage OF having pool OF
skilled graduates from which they
are able to draw apprentices. Cur
rently, entrance applications are OF
file from four northwest states seek
ing admission to the Butte Noca-
tonal School-but the demand for
Vocational training far exceeds the
present facilities to even take care
OF the local needs. This year over
6OO High School and adult stu
dents week will attend the nine
month courses which will include the
training OF apprentice auto mechan-
les, electricians, machinists, plumb.
crs, carpenters, plasterers, Spanish
and such courses as related drafting
arc and gas welding, salesmanship
public speaking and volunteer fire
men. Also institutional on-the clas.
ses for farmers from Deer Lodge
Drummond, and Helenville.
Far from being new, Nocationa
Education precedes all other forma
types OF training. II we go back
into the history OF the early civil
izations, we will find that their ed
ucational systems began with vo
cational emphasis to enable individ
uals and groups to secure the nee
cssties of life, to protect themselve!
against enemies. and to provide tor
at least. the immediate future. Con
temporary primitive tribes base thei
education wholly upon hunting, fish
ing, securing clothing and shelter
the use Of arms, and is largely pas
scd down from father to son.
Vocational education is a very IN
elusive term and, viewed broadly
may cover all those experience
whereby an individual learns to car
ry on successful any useful occu
patton. These experiences may b
organized and institutionalized, o
unorganized and more or less hap
hazard. In a narrower sense. vo
caiional education may be define
as series OF controlled and organ
izcd experiences arranged to pre-
pare person Tor socially usetu
employment
The new u. S. Commissioner G
Education recently stated. The cos
oi providing vocational training
lust as properly charge upon tn
public revenue as any other iori
Of education. In the interest OF la
Dor itself such training cannot b
devolved upon the employer. Or
ganizcd labor is perfectly right !
insisting supervision and control, $
that the interest and welfare OF tn
worker as we'll as the employer, WI
be taken fairly into account. In
cost OF such training certainly shoul
not be put upon the individual worke
unless we are prepared TO abando
our traditional policy of providin
education and equality OF oppol
,unity for our youth. We cannot
fairness continue to provide specia
izcd education free to the few VII
propose to enter the professions viii
DENYING education to tthe many iC
the commoncr vocations.'
The following points are pert
nent in justifying the expenditure
OF tax money for vocational educ;
ton:
(a) There is definite relation
ship between vocational educatlC
and the economic conditions OF Il
country.
% AS the supply OF raw materia
dimnishes. the need for trainil
those who fabricatc them into III
ished products decreases.
(c) The need for vocational cd'
cation in the field OF agriculture il
creases as the supply OF avallab
virgin soil decreases
Cd The large body OF scientli
knowledge which bas been built
in the fields of farming and indust
makes it necessary for the farm
and the mechanic to have specialize
vocational education, if they are
make their fullest contribution
production in their respective field
(e) Since the position of the Ur
ted States in the markets OF 4
world is less advantageous than
was in the days when native ra
materials were more easily obtain
il is becoming more and more ne
essary to rely on the native gem
OF the people and their ability
organize for production on a lar
scale to maintain our position
the leading industrial nation in t
world. This means that vocation
education must be provided to d
velop these two characteristics
their fullest.
(iD Our government has indicat
It's interest in vocational educat
by setting up research laboratori
BY disseminating the results OF thu
research, and by appropriating SC
eral millions OF dollars annually
its promotion.
go The occupational area
which little training is needed
ovcr-crowded. There is a CORE
ponding lack of workers in the are
where considerable training is nj
essary. In the first of these Z
many who have potential abilit
which. ii developed by trainil
would enable them to occupy po
tons in the latter area. II this W.
done. the congestion among the II
skilled would be relieved and II
provide opportunities for some W
are unemployed.
(h) There is a constant dema