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Show Vocational Needs Explained In National Magazine (EDITOR'S NOTE -The following article appeared In the January, 1979 Issue of "Journal of the American Vocational Assn" and was written by Dewaln Washburn, director of Sevier Valley Tech. The article Is In the "Vocational Viewpoints" section and is entitled, "A 'Message for State Legislators". The article is pertinent to all who are Interested in the advancement of vocational education. For many years local, state and national politicians have verbally supported the need for more and better vocational education programs. We have realized that as the society we live in has become more technical, we must update our skills to work and function successfully. We constantly hear about unemployment, yet listings of unfilled jobs appear in the newspapers every day. As public servants, we have the responsibility and obligation to provide the means through which unemployed persons can be trained for the jobs that are available. The federal govern-ment has made con siderable efforts to help state and local governments try to meet these needs, but the job must really be done at the state level where the local direction and emphasis can be given. A state and local commitment to vocational education is essential because it is at these levels that we can realistically determine which courses should be taught and where the training is provided. Federal' funds often come with many restrictions that do not always, allow local needs to be met. State legislators can give state boards of education directions on the programs they need to develop, and because legislators are the ones who approve funds state boards tend to listen. State boards can carry the direction on to the local boards because it is the state boards that develop the rules and regulations under which local boards must operate. It is reported that state and local funds for vocational education are equal to seven dollars for every one federal dollar, To some legislators this may seem that state and local governments are carrying more than their share, but we must realize that the responsibility for education rests primarily with state and local government. It is our responsibility to provide the necessary, educational programs to meet the needs of the society we serve. There are three primary human needs that our education system must strive to meet. First, it must provide the basic training in reading, writing and math, so that individuals may function in society. Second, it must provide experiences for individuals to develop good citizenship and community attitudes. Third and vital to the other two it must provide the skills necessary for persons to be productive and hold a job, for without a job in our society you are nothing. We must make certain that at the end of a student's schooling we have provided the opportunity for that student to reach the next step in life be it a job or further training for a job. There should be a career at the end of every educational endeavor of our young people. We also have one other responsibility that must be met: retraining and updating the skills of our present work force. New technology makes it necessary for workers to constantly update their skills or learn new ones in the unfortunate event that technological advances displace them from their jobs. The investment in good vocational programs will pay large dividends to a community, state and a nation because people who work support every aspect of a community. They become taxpayers and contributors to community functions. A family unit in which the head of a household has a job and provides the family with the necessities is the backbone of America. : It is far better to spend dollars for training people in skills necessary ' to hold a job than in any other government program. The federal government has tried many "make work" projects, but there is ' nothing that will show a greater benefit for every dollar spent than to train people for productive I jobs. For example, the dollars spent on the G.I. ' bill to get veterans back J into training have paid greater dividends than any other government program. As legislators we are constantly struggling to raise the standard of living for people in our society through welfare programs. Dollars spent for these programs are necessary, but the dividends would be much greater if vocational training could have provided welfare clients with jobs to make them productive. Vocational education is more expensive than traditional academic classes, since the classes must be smaller, and the equipment and supplies are much more expensive. When the alternative is welfare and prison costs, however, the expense is comparatively small. Society seems to accept the high cost for training doctors or lawyers or engineers, but people become very concerned when money is spent to train the skilled technicians who build the hospitals and service the equipment that make it possible for the other professions to operate. We must realize that funds spent to train all our citizens are the best Investment we can make. At the same time we must expect results from the funds were ap proprlate. State vocational ad-mlnistrators should provide you with information about placement of trained students, and they should develop a master plan for the controlled growth and development needed to keep vocational programs current and responsive to social changes. Nonproductive programs should be terminated. It is difficult many times to eliminate the local politics out of decisions about where to locate facilities and about which new programs to develop. As legislators we are put into a position of fighting for the geographic area we represent. We must, however, have a plan to follow if the most benefit is to be derived from each dollar spent. Although at times this may not seem practical, we should work to make facilities accessible to all those who desire vocational gaining. Many persons who need training lack the money or energy necessary to move long distances to get training, As a result many go without training and end up costing the taxpayers much more through other types of social programs. When legislators need additional information in order to make intelligent decisions they should call upon the vocational educators in the area they serve. They should go beyond the local school superintendent, because unless he or she is committed to this type of training the answers given may not reflect the true picture. Go to the vocational director. Visit the vocational teacher. Talk with students and parents. These people will tell it like it is. When facts and figures are needed the state department of vocational education should be the best source. Go to state government workers who deal every day with specific vocational education problems and not the general administrators who have too many general responsibilities to ever learn of the basic problems and needs. If your legislative body is fortunate enough to have members who are knowledgeable in vocational education because of their backgrounds or experience they are a tremendous source of information. They are always available to interpret both the legislative issues and the needs of vocational educators. |