Milford chronicle., 1953-08-21
Urge Flexible
Vocational Studies In
LOIUeT DeLGlUGre
(eontlnned from first naral

new comprehensive high school at
MiddletOwn will be opened next
month.
Dr. Helm pointed out that he
was relieved of his teacher train
ing work at the University of Della
ware during the past year in order
to have more time to devote to the
administrative matters pertaining
to the vocational and vocational
rehabilitation programs.
New Farm Shop
In the section of his report of an
agricultural education, DR.. Helm
said one new farm shop and con-
Meeting agriculture classroom was
completed by the end of the school
year and two others neared COM
pletiOn, and during the year sug-
gested floor plans were made up
for both agriculture classrOoms
and shops, ideas from many states
being incorporated in them.
I'm addition, a suggested floor
plan for equipment has also been
prepared" he related. These
shops are constructed large enough
that several pieces of large farm
machinery can be torn down at
the same time. Home workshops
have been constructed on the farms
of many of our vocational agri-
culture students"
The report cites that the Lord
Baltimore and Caesar Rodney vO-
catiOnal agriculture departments
continue to operate their canning
programs on a seasonal basis. Dur
ing the past year, the institutional
On-the-farm program for veterans
was brought to a close and as vet
no new classes have been started
for the Korean veterans. DR.. Helm
expressed a hope for an increase
in young farmer classes"
While the school year opened
with all departments manned bv
competent instructors, two resig-
nations were received last January
due to higher wages in industry
and the extension field and as the
year closed another teacher re.
signed to go into the poultry in
dustry at a large increase in sal
airy. Requirements were received
for the first two who resigned.
The trade and industrial educa-
tiOn phase of the report states that
1T is the opinion of many of our
school administrators that some
kind of vocational instruction
should be available to all those who
need it, want it, and can profit by
it," 1t mentioned that it has been
possible to offer day instruction in
only the major skilled occupations.
but the training program also in
cludes part-time and evening in
structiOn to make persons employ
able and to help qualify them to
advance.
Demand Rises
While the veterans training DrO-
gram is diminishing rapidly, other
classes have developed to Offset
somewhat the large decrease" DR.
Helm reported. There continues
to be an increasing demand for
trade instruction in the rural areas
OF the state. We have endeavored
to meet this need through the pro-
motion of diversified occupation
classes but progress has been
slow.
If Delaware continues it's pres
ent rate of industrial development
another vocational school will be
needed before long and should be
constructed at or near Milford
where the state board already has
purchased a site. This could well
take care of the trade and indus
trial requirements of the two low
er counties"
Explaining that more re0uests
are made each year for instruction
OF technical nature to meet the
demands of modern industry. Dr.
Helm said that any expansion in
post-high school and evening in
stTuction should definitely be in
such fields as electrOnics, metal
lurgy, industrial chemistry, indus
trial electricity and industrial pro
cesses.
He reviewed the work of the
nome economics and distributive
ana business education divisions
IN detail, and in connection with
the latter said the need of trained
workers in the distributive field
has continued to grow throughout
the state, especially in shODDine
areas surrounding Wilmington. Do
yer, Laurel' SeafOrd, Georgetown
and Milford.
Tentative Plans
Tentative plans. he said, are be-
ing made to relieve the shortage of
trained workers in New Castle and
Sussex Counties by initiating addi-
tiOnal cooperative programs and
plans are also being made to ex-
pand the offerings of the adult
program. He assured that Owe
will endeavOr to increase training
facilities for distributive educa-
tiOn as the need for trained work
ers increases in Delaware"
DR.. Helm further gave an outline
of the operations and accomplish
ments of OccupatiOnal information
and guidance division.
The annual financial and statisti-
cal report for vocational education
for the period ended the past June
30, which will be submitted to the
U. S. Department of Education
shows expenditures of 100000 nm
der the federal Smith-Hughes Act
S12S,653.S4 under the federal
GeOrge-Barden Act, $216.591.11 in
state funds; and S169,345.21 in To-
cal funds, total of $544,59O16
There was reverting balance of
S2,064.14 in state funds.
Vocational enrollments the past
school year number 1921, as fol-