Our city while less than 10,000 population, is decidedly an industrial city-great need for further fostering of trade-extension classes but without additional Federal aid would be greatly handicapped. Our community, therefore, would be greatly benefited by the additional funds made available by the passage of the Capper-Reed vocational-education bill now pending before Congress, and in their behalf I earnestly congratulate you for your effort in bringing this bill before Congress. Very truly yours, J. E. KITOWSKI, City Superintendent. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Hon. DANIEL A. REED, Chairman House Committtee on Education, Washington, D. C. DEAR Mr. REED: I am writing you in the interest of House bill No. 10821, the Capper-Reed vocational-education bill. The passage of this bill will enlarge the . opportunities of the youth of our country to prepare for entrance into profitable commercial and industrial pursuits. It will assist in the equalization of educational opportunties. It will permit the promotion of programs of vocational education for the purpose of retaining workers who have been displaced by changed machinery, new methods, and old age. I therefore, as State superintendent of public instruction in Missouri, respectfully urge the passage of this measure. Respectfully yours, Representative DANIEL A. REED, CHAS. A. LEE, State Superintendent. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. KELSO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Kelso, Wash., April 29, 1930. DEAR REPRESENTATIVE REED: Please be advised that the teachers of the public schools of Kelso, Wash., indorse the Capper-Reed vocational education bill (H. R. 10821) and urge its passage. We feel that this bill will provide training to a group that the public schools can not reach adequately. Very respectfully, Hon. DANIEL REED, C. H. LILLIE. FOREST GROVE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: May I express my approval and indorsement of House bill No. 10821 to provide for the further development of vocational education. There are many rather prominent people in this section of our State of Oregon who maintain that students receive more from money expended on Vocational education than from some other phases in our school curriculum. Since the financial resources for vocational education are so limited, I sincerely hope that this bill may be approved. Respectfully submitted. J. P. MCGLASSON, City Superintendent of Schools. Hon. DANIEL A. REED, LEE'S SUMMIT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Chairman House Committee on Education, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. REED: This communication is to urge your committee to act favorably on House bill 10821, the Capper-Reed vocational education bill. In our school we have vocational home economics, vocational trades and industries, and vocational agriculture. The number of schools adopting the vocational program is increasing each year. This work is bringing practical results. Very truly yours, H. MCMILLAN, Superintendent of Schools. P. S. This letter is indorsed by the board of education. Hon. DANIEL REED, ATHENS COUNTY VILLAGE AND RURAL SCHOOLS, Member of Congress, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: We have read with interest House bill 10821 which provides for the further development of vocational education in the several States and Territories. The best preparedness for our country's defense is to be made in our public schools. We believe it the duty of the Federal Government to assist. With wishes for the success of this bill, we are Yours very truly, H. R. McVAY. JERSEY CITY, N. J., May 6, 1930. Hon. DANIEL A. REED, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: I should like if I may to express to you my hearty approval of the bill H. R. 10821, which you have introduced in the House. I believe that it is desirable for public-school systems like our own to assume an increasing responsibility for the vocational preparation and adjustment of industrial workers. I regard the Federal aid already furnished through the Smith-Hughes law as of great assistance in the advancement of this work and shall welcome the additional stimulus and encouragement which the enactment of the Capper-Reed bill would offer for its further expansion. MY DEAR MR. REED: I have before me your House bill 10821 having to do with vocational education. May I add my word in support of this bill? I am sure that there exists a great need throughout the United States for more training in vocational lines and this bill ought to go a long way toward meeting that need. I shall appreciate any support that it may get and I hope that it has sufficient support to be enacted into law. Yours very truly, R. E. OFFENHAUER. Hon. DANIEL A. REED, EAST PALESTINE CITY SCHOOLS, Chairman House Committee on Education, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: There has been called to my attention the fact that there is pending in the House of Representatives the Capper-Reed vocational education bill, providing an extension of the Federal aid now provided for in the SmithHughes Act. As one who sees daily the need for vocational training for youth, in order to make him a forward-looking and intelligent worker with producing and buying power, may I add my voice to those that favor the proposed law, and appreciate the effort you and your colleagues are making in its behalf. Yours sincerely, C. E. PALMER. SCHULENBURG PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Hon. DANIEL A. REED, Chairman House Committee on Education, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SIR: I am writing to ask that you lend your support to House bill 10821, providing funds for vocational education. As you know, of course, Texas is matching Federal money with State, and can not supply the demands because of lack of funds. In my opinion, this is one of the surest ways of aiding the unemployment situation prevalent in the United States to-day, as it is among the unskilled laborers that the most suffering exists. In our local situation the vocational departments of our school, (we have three full-time vocational teachers) mean as much, or perhaps more, to our community than the other departments. I should be glad if you would write me your position on this bill, whether or not you favor its passage, and, if you do not favor it, I should like to know your reasons for opposing it. Sincerely, Hon. DANIEL A. REED, E. H. PATTON, Superintendent of Schools. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. SIR: As State superintendent of public instruction of the State of Michigan I have come in contact with the work done in agriculture, home economics, and trade and industry under the Smith-Hughes law. The George-Reed bill, recently passed, will make possible some forward steps in agricultural and home economics education. Being an industrial State, we are naturally interested in the development of industrial education. I heartily indorse the Capper-Reed vocational education bill, known as H. R. 10821 and Senate 3969. The additional funds provided in this bill will no doubt, under our system of State supervision, be productive of good results. I may add that our relations with the Federal Board in the administration of these funds have been most cordial and we believe we shall continue to have their cooperation. I wish you success in the passage of this bill. Very truly yours, WEBSTER H. PEARCE. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, Portland, Oreg., April 9, 1930. Hon. DANIEL A. REED, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. REED: I desire to add my indorsement to the bill now before Congress for the continued development of vocational education, known as Senate bill 3969 and House bill 10821. Your active support toward the passage of these measures will be appreciated. Yours very truly, 116859-30-23 CHAS. A. RICE, Superintendent of Schools. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, Hon. DANIEL A. REED, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. REED: It is my understanding that an early hearing will be held by the House Committee on Education concerning the Capper-Reed Vocational education bill, H. R. 10821. Therefore, I wish to take this opportunity to express my hearty indorsement in behalf of this important piece of legislation. The provisions of the bill which would encourage the establishment of parttime and evening school classes in trade, industrial, and commercial subjects are further attempts to equalize educational opportunity and provide for the continuous vocational improvement of wage earners. Certainly a program which would tap new sources of information in the solution of our complex social and economic problems is as important as any other phase of public education. Yours very respectfully, AGNES SAMUELSON, Superintendent of Public Instruction. SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Springfield, Ohio, April 30, 1930. Hon. DANIEL A. REED, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR MR. REED: The school people, as well as a number of the leading citizens in Springfield, are interested in the passage of House bill 10821, which makes an appropriation for the further development of vocational education in United States. All who have given the subject any thought realize the need for further development of vocational education throughout the country. The results secured from the appropriation of the Smith-Hughes bill have been excellent. However, the funds are not adequate to encourage and direct the program that should be given at the present time. This bill will supplement the appropriation of the Smith-Hughes law and make further development possible. For years we have been training our boys and girls for the professions which really means for college when over 90 per cent of them have not been entering such institutions. It has been easy and inexpensive for boards of education and school executives to offer academic training. Boards of education need the aid and encouragement which this bill provides for the establishment of courses better fitted for these boys and girls who are not going to college and in addition the States need encouragement to provide for the training of teachers to teach such courses. I trust you will use your influence to secure the passage of this bill and thus assist in offering better opportunities to the great majority of the boys and girls in our public schools. Sincerely yours, F. M. SHELTON, Superintendent of Schools. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, Hon. DANIEL A. REED, Chairman House Committee on Education, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. REED: House bill No. 10821, which appears to be a supplement to the work under the Smith-Hughes provision, has just been called to my attention. This particular work is of special importance to our adult education classes and would meet with very great favor in this State. All of our work in the Smith-Hughes field has been a decided stimuli to public education, as well as providing the means for specialization in these particular subjects. While the contribution to our State will not be large at first, the interest created will multiply the value of money allowance many fold. I trust that your hearing will be satisfactory and that a favorable report will be made by your committee. If there is anything I can do, personally, to assist in bringing the matter properly to the attention of our Washington delegation, I shall be glad to do this. Sincerely yours, N. D. SHOWALTER, Superintendent. Hon. DANIEL A. REED, BERKELEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Chairman House Committee on Education, SIR: You have before your committee the Capper-Reed vocational bill to provide for additional Federal funds for trade and industrial and commercial education. I am writing you this letter to urge that every practicable method may be used to secure the favorable recommendation of this bill by your committee to the Congress, and that it may receive favorable consideration and early enactment in the law. For several years I was closely connected with the development of vocational education in the Middle West. At the present time my responsibilities make it necessary to supervise a comprehensive educational program with vocational education as an important part. In all these experiences the great benefit of Vocational education to young people has been made markedly manifest. The unfortunate feature of the whole situation is that funds are not sufficient to carry forward the vocational program in as comprehensive and in as extensive a manner as is necessary. Great numbers of youth are denied opportunities that should be made open to them. I wish to call your attention also to a fact with reference to vocational education which is not generally noted, namely, that since the inauguration of vocational education the fact of its development alongside traditional education has been a great stimulus to the latter. The pioneer efforts of vocational education workers have stimulated the whole process of education. I do not advocate additional funds for this latter reason; however, it is worthy of statement in connection with the effort to secure additional funds. I believe it is to the interest of general, as well as vocational, education that the bill referred to should become law. Yours very truly, Hon. SAMUEL RUTHERFORD, L. W. SMITH, Superintendent of Schools. THOMASTON, GA., April 28, 1930. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. RUTHERFORD: I am sure you are fully aware of the great good being done by the funds provided by the existing vocational act. For that reason I am writing to urge your support of the Capper-Reed national vocational educational bill (H. R. 10821). From my connection with schools and the work as now being conducted in our State I am convinced that there is a need for increased funds to carry this work on as it should be. Many of the communities needing this type of educational work are not being served on account of the lack of funds. It might be of interest to you to know that our little city has had in evening classes under the vocational board during this winter more than 200 men and women. This number could be easily doubled but for the lack of funds. These men and women are people who are actually on their jobs and are interested to the point of giving their evenings to better prepare themselves as citizens and increase their earning capacity. Assuring you of my very high regard for you and thanking you for past favors to our community. Yours very truly, MARK SMITH, Superintendent of Schools. |