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Show I niiTiii j IN THE SCHOOLS OF I IIS CITY D That tho present war has demon - fiH strated a need for a wider education ffl thai will reach each individual-child, mt giving preparation in specific trades nd Industries, is a statement of Henry H C. Johnson, superintendent " of the H Ogdcn public schools. M The fact that yesterday was "Edu-jgjt "Edu-jgjt cation and Decision" day in America, m at which time the boys and girls were urged to decide to continue their stuff stu-ff 'lies in schools and colleges, makes H tho terms of the Smith-Hughes Voca-M Voca-M tioual law, which is to be in effect, M in the Ogden public schools when the m fall term opens, September 9, doubly ffl interesting at this time. In response to this paper, Superin-mm Superin-mm tendent Johnson has prepared a brief H resume of the bill and its features, as fl 1 follows : HI "During the last ten years, cspc- mm cially, there has been much said and HI attempted by public school systems in HHH different parts of the country to make Blffl courses tfiat will prepare boyti and Wm girls more definitely for fixed occupa- fflB lions. Not, however, until a year ago, Wm when congress passed the Smith - MM Hughes Vocational bill, had there been flH any action In this direction by the fed- Mjm eral government. fffH "This bill definitely purposes to se- AjRj cure uniformity throughout the coun- MH try in establishing what may be term- flfll ed as pre-vocational courses. Accord H ing to its provisions, congress appro- Wm priates money to the different states, MM apportioned according to school popu- Wjm lation. This money is to bo used to IN pay part of the salaries of teachers SRI in public schools that establish de- ffllBj finite courses in trades and industries jIH in agriculture, in domestic arts and mm domestic science. MM "This work may consist of regular fl departmeuts in the high school; part H time courses that purpose to take care HH of boys and girls that are spending H some of their time at work and part ! aM of tho time in school, or evening , mH courses for boys and girls that are IK learning trades and at the same timo l arc seeking to gain more knowledge ( and become more efficient citizens. fm "Congress established a board for ; jU the distribution of this money, with I H a national director, and each state was . JH called upon to appoint directors for ( HH the state, one in charge of agricul-WmL agricul-WmL tural work, one in charge of trades Mn and industries, and one in charge of HI household arts. The states as a whole HH have appointed these people, strictly ftflj on tho basis of efficiency, selecting BK men and women who are specialists in H tho line of work for which they are BH appointed, men and women who have HH specialized in this work in their colli col-li I lege training and have had experience 11 In organizing and conducting this work raffl in some of the best' schools in the BH These appointees have definitely H worked out courses and requirements H which have been printed and sent to uH all the school districts of their states. Ijflt Now tho school districts in the several Hi states aro ararnging courses to com- jSHj ply with the requirements of these HI vocational directors who work directly J HI under the federal government in out- )H lining and supervising their work. Wn "The present war has demonstrated f ! HU a need for a more universal education HI that will reach each individual child, wM giving preparation in specific trades IB ant industries. Our goveiriment at iHm n'G mc keenly feels the need of iHH more skilled workers, and realizes gjg fully that too many of our citizens WM have failed to secure training from the JAM schools that should make them, not H only intelligent citizens, but efficient HI workers in some definite line of ac- DJ "Hence, the purpose of the bill is an wM excellent one, and should appeal to jH fathers and mothers as an opportunity H t ?vc aU children the training in H school that will bo of definite help H lo them when they are obliged to flj "It is not the purpose of this legis- H lation to dictate to the local com- S munity in regard to the matter of con- H ducting th schools or means of or- 01 1 jjanlzing or in questions of administra- K tion. The government has established U certain fundamental principles and HI general courses in vocations that it I feels should be a part of every school Wm that is democratic and plans to be of H service to all its citizens. DJ "Tho state organization, working 131 under the plan of the government, .has flffl organized courses that represent the fli needs that interests of tho particular HI state. Within these general sUgges- H tlons and plans the local districts are Ml allowed to work out their own cours- H cs. If they qualify in certain general HI requirements, such as ninety minute H class periods devoted to each subject, H Introducing into the course those sub- Hj jects that aro definitely related to the H industries, engaging teachers that Ljli have special preparation for their gft work, furnishing tho equipment that $jfl may bo necessary to make tho teach - jjH ing concrete and specific, they are al- H lowed to participate in the Smith- Ifl Hughes fund, which makes an allow- II ance of one-half tho salary of the in-D in-D H structors that aro engaged in teaching Hi the subjects specified by the govern - HI mcnt. I "In tho city of Ogden, tho -school courses have .been worked out this summer to comply with the general demands of tho government, and, if tho work is demanded by sufficient number of students, courses will be offered in domestic art, domestic science, sci-ence, agriculture, and trades and industries. in-dustries. Tho regular departments in the day school of the high school will offer these courses. In addition to this, courses have been worked out for part time classes. "It is possible to reach large numbers num-bers of boys and girls who, having left the elementary or high school, find themselves in most cases without correct cor-rect guidance cither as to how they shall get promotion, or as to ttow they bhall make use of their time in the most advantageous manner, or how they may choose a more advantageous occupation. It is their civic or vocational voca-tional intelligence. As a rule these pupils aro not naturally interested in learning from books. Whilo many leave school for economic reasons, the majority leave school because formal school work docs not appeal to them. They must be approached through actual trade processes and activities, and through their interest in advance -"The. school will make a special ap- peal to boys who are working in certain cer-tain trades, to como to the high school and take up subjects related to their trado at certain periods a week. This appeal will be. made not only to the boys, but also to tho employers. An effort will be made to get employers to cooperate and encourage tho boys to improve their skill and advancement and knowledge by attending tho "Part Time School." "During the year courses will also be offered In several departments in evening school, where work will bo given suited to boys and girls who! are working during the day." |