Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor

PROVISION FOR THE DISABLED, AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONSource: Monthly Labor Review, Vol. 8, No. 4 (APRIL, 1919), pp. 89-92Published by: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of LaborStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41827621 .

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PROVISION FOR THE DISABLED, AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION.

RECONSTRUCTION MEASURES FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF WOMEN IN ENGLAND.

On December 11, 1918, a subcommittee of the women's advisory- committee of the Ministry of Reconstruction presented an interim report dealing with the coordination of vocational training for women.1 The presentation of an interim report is explained on the ground that the committee was "impressed with the exigencies of the present situation and the probable immediate need of industrial training for women." With a iarge number already thrown put of work, and with every probability that the number would increase during the coming months, there seemed a special need for "supplying them with hopeful occupation and permanently improving their position."

During the war the Ministry of Pensions had been given special statutory powers with regard to the training of disabled men and pensionable widows. It had undertaken the training of disabled men on a large scale and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, but it had done very little in the way of training widows, and that little had been carried on single handed. It is estimated that 190,000 widows will be in receipt of pensions by June, 1919. Of these only 460 had, at the time of making this report, applied for training, and in only 214 cases had training been sanctioned. There seems no overstatement in the committee's conclusion: "We gather that the ministry is not at present desirous of embarking on large schemes of training for women."

The committee points out that there are at least seven different bodies which are or may be concerned with the training of women. The Ministry of Pensions has been specially empowered to deal with the training of widows. The Ministry of Munitions has provided training for woman munition workers in large numbers during the war, and in this it has been assisted by the education authorities. The Ministry of Labor has undertaken extensive work in connection with the training of disabled men, and the machinery provided for this might well be used if the training of women is undertaken on a large scale. The trade boards set up in different industries havo important statutory powers as to training. In the constitutions of 1 Great Britain. Ministry of Reconstruction. Women's Advisory Committee. Interim report of tho

subcommittee od the coordination of the vocational training of women. London, 1918 [1035] $9

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90 MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

the new industrial councils (the Whitley councils) the supervision of trade instruction is in most cases set out as one of the objects of the council. And, finally, the central committee on women's employ- ment, which was formed at the beginning of the war to deal with unemployed women, and which as part of its work formulated plans for the industrial training of women, is likely to become active again if the present prospects of unemployment among women are realized. With all these different agencies potentially in the field there is much . danger of overlapping and of waste of effort if the question of train- ing women comes practically to the front.

The committee feel that the special object of industrial training, as distinguished from education in general, is to equip the individual with knowledge and skill which shall be of immediate practical advan- tage. To secure this end, it is necessary, first, that the national and local demand for trained persons for each occupation shall be ascer- tained, and, second, that the training shall be carried on in the closest possible cooperation with those actually engaged in the industry.

If the first condition is not fulfilled, a trade may be overstocked with trained persons, to the detriment of those trained, and with a possible lowering of wages. If the second condition is not fulfilled, the employers, on the one hand, may decline to employ the persons trained, and organized labor, on the other, may refuse to recognize their status.

The committee recommends, first, that cooperation between the board of education and the local authorities, associations of employers and employed, and the Ministry of Labor be regarded as the first step in any program of training for women. Second, the actual training, so far as it is undertaken by public bodies, should be the function of the local education authorities acting under the board of education. Third, in each industry central and local advisory trade committees should be formed, representing associations of employers and employed.

The duties of these bodies should bo (1) to draw up appropriate trade curricula in consultation with representatives of the education authority; (2) to decide as to lhe proper rates of wages to be paid at the end of the industrial course, or, in the case of part-time instruction, during that course; (3) to advise from time to time as to suitable openings in their industry; (4) to draw up lists of persons from whom the local education authority might appoint the expert members of the managing or advisory committees for individual technical institutions; (5) to recommend technical instructors for appointment.

Such advisory trade committees, it is pointed out, have already been set up to deal with the training of men, and it should not bo difficult either to set up similar bodies for trades where women aro concerned, or to alter the personnel of the existing committees, so as to provide for the adequate representation of women's organiza- tions. The Ministry of Labor should be specially charged with tho

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MONTHLY LABOB BE VIEW. 91

task of determining the demand, both national and local, for trained persons in any particular occupations. They have already under- taken such surveys with regard to openings for disabled men, and might easily increase their work to cover openings for women. The Ministry of Pensions and the central committee on women's employ- ment should limit their work to recommending individuals suitable for training, and assisting them either by maintenance grants or by paying the training fees. Finally, the committee recommends that the money expended during the war by the Ministry of Munitions on training should be considered as educational endowment, and that the property and equipment should become the property of the appropriate local authority.

TRAINING FOR THE BRITISH MERCANTILE MARINE.1

When it became apparent early in the fall of 1918 that there would be a shortage of men for the merchant marine, the Board of Trade in conference with the Ministry of Shipping decided to institute a system of training English lads for this service, and the necessary arrangements were completed at Gravesend for inaugurating tho scheme.

In September a crew of 40 boys made a practical start by dis- mantling and refitting the training ship preparatory to beginning regular work. The instruction given includes training in knotting, splicing, boat handling, rowing, swimming, heaving the lead, knowl- edge of the compass, steering, signaling, cleaning brass and bright work, scrubbing, preparing and serving mess, and other practical duties.

In all of this training theory and practice are combined wherever possible. For instance, instruction in steering is begun in the school and completed on the Board of Trade launch furnished for the purpose. Fine ship models loaned to the school provide an excellent oppor- tunity for familiarization with the parts and equipment of a ship. The training of trimmers is given at the local gas works where the students by handling coke and coal in top-heavy barrows learn how to handle barrows on shipboard. They are also taught to clean fires and to stoke furnaoes, and some of them receive daily instruc- tion on board the training launch in raising and keeping steam and banking fires.

Applicants must pass a satisfactory physical examination and furnish references from their schoolmaster or clergyman and em- ployer, if possible. Strict discipline is practioed and politeness required. Attractive surroundings are provided in the way of an 1 Summarized from Board oí Trade Journal and Commercial Gazette, London, Jan. 9, 1919, pp. 30,31.

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92 MONTHLY LABOR REVIEW.

assembly room for reading, writing, games, and concerts, and a religious service is held Sunday morning. Good wholesome food is supplied.

In the first three months of its existence the school prepared 126 sailors for work on a variety of vessels, and the results show that with proper facilities and efficient instructors, intensive training can adequately prepare boys for this service in from six to eight weeks.

AGRICULTURAL REEDUCATION IN FRANCE.1

According to Maj. Chatin (Medical Corps) some interesting results as to the agricultural reeducation of the war disabled have been secured at the Lyons (France) reeducation center. Generally speaking, it is less difficult for one-armed men to do agricultural work than it is for those who have lost a leg, the Gillet aluminum working arm and the Jullien apparatus for holding tools making the work possible. It has been found that the " tool-holding apparatus with a revolving ring, fastened to the working arm by a shaft of sufficient length, with an antivibratory spring inserted, is most useful. "

One of the best exercises for a man who has lost an arm is digging, whether it be with a spade or with a fork. For this purpose the apparatus with a " cardan" (an appliance permitting of a free oscillating movement) is better than the revolving ring.

Inquiries show that in spite of their severe handicap a majority of the men lacking a leg who formerly worked upon the land have returned to it. For these cases a wooden leg fitted with a broad crosspiece at the bottom to facilitate walking over rough ground is the most suitable. The difficulty encountered in plowing of walking over the plowed land may be overcome by using the Canadian plow having a seat. It is almost impossible, however, for a man who has lost his left leg or his right thigh to do work of this kind. Using the scythe also is extremely difficult for men wearing artificial limbs, notwithstanding the attempts to make the work easier through the adaptation of the long-handled double curved scythe or the left- handed scythe for men with the right leg amputated.

By means of the "Lumiere" pincers each of the agriculturalists reeducated at Lyons learns to saw, nail, plane, sharpen his saw, and perform other carpentering operations useful in repairing agricultural tools.

i War Pensions Gazette (Great Britain), January, 1919, p. 260.

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