A NATION AT, PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 1093 



VOCATIONAL EDUCATION 



By the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917, a plan was set up for " cooper- 

 ating with the States in paying the salaries of teachers, supervisors, 

 or directors of agricultural subjects," as well as "in preparing teachers, 

 supervisors, and directors of agricultural subjects and teachers of 

 trade and industrial and home economics subjects." The adminis- 

 tration of this act was placed in the hands of the Federal Board of 

 Vocational Education. 



It appears that Federal aid has served as a powerful stimulus to the 

 development of State programs of vocational education. The number 

 of federally aided schools increased fivefold during a 9-year period and 

 the number of teachers and pupils about as rapidly. In 1932 there 

 were 1,075,510 pupils and 28,368 teachers. 



This activity is significant for its influence upon forestry. In some 

 of the States, as in Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina, 

 the vocational agricultural teachers are carrying on important work 

 in forestry. Many of the schools have established small demonstra- 

 tion forests, which are being developed by the students. In many of 

 these schools, also, effective programs of forestry instruction are being 

 carried on. A very promising field, just beginning to be cultivated, 

 for the extension of forestry interest and practice lies in cooperation 

 between State forestry departments and the vocational agricultural 

 schools. 



