REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE FIELD AND SCOPE 

 OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN FORESTRY. 



This report is presented in two parts. The first, dealing with vocational 

 education in forestry in a more general way, was prepared by the chairman 

 of the committee, Prof. James B. Berry. The second part, dealing with ranger 

 schools, was prepared by Prof. E. A. Ziegler. 



Part I. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IN FORESTRY. 



Vocational forestry is differentiated from professional forestry by extent of 

 training rather than kind of subject matter. In general, the positions which 

 are more intimately concerned with "doing" with the carrying out of certain 

 operations involving skills are classed as vocational. In a broad sense, how- 

 ever, the term includes practically all of the so-called professional occupations. 

 There is, then, no hard and fast line separating vocational from professional 

 forestry. 



The field of vocational education in forestry includes five lines of preparation, 

 all of which may be promoted under the vocational education act (Smith- 

 Hughes) of 1917. Briefly, these are as follows : 



1. Farm-wood'lot manager. Here forestry enters as an adjunct to farming 

 and becomes one of several farm enterprises. Not infrequently the subject of 

 woodland forestry will be handled as a phase of horticulture, especially as 

 regards ornamental planting, windbreaks, care of shade trees, tree surgery, 

 and nursery practices. The fact must be continually borne in mind that voca- 

 tional training in agriculture is the object of this course of study, and the sub- 

 ject of forestry enters on the same basis as field crops, animal production, fruit 

 growing, and farm shop. The course of training may extend over a period of 

 four years or less. It should include six months of supervised farm practice. 



2. Forest ranger (Federal and State civil service). This phase of voca- 

 tional forestry involves training in many of the skills of civil engineering, 

 silviculture, lumbering, live-stock growing, elementary law, fish and game pro- 

 tection and propagation, etc. In general, these positions are filled by graduates 

 of professional and semiprofessional schools. Several hundred vacancies occur 

 each year, and there is a growing demand for a limited number of vocational 

 forestry departments in secondary schools for the preparation of rangers. The 

 period of training may consist of four years or less. This course may be on a 

 basis of four months of supervised work or alternate days or weeks devoted to 

 supervised practice. 



3. Straw bosses for woods operations. The course of training is quite similar 

 to that offered for the preparation of foremen in industry. In addition to tech- 

 nical knowledge and skills there is involved ability to handle men. The sub- 

 jects taught include certain skills in surveying, mechanics, lumbering, handling 

 live stock, etc. On every operation there are certain men who, with a short, 

 intensive course of training, will develop into efficient foremen. In general, 

 this course may be offered in evening classes. 



4. Skilled workers (sawyers, etc.) in sawmills, planing mills, handle fac- 

 tories, wood-pulp mills, tie pickling plants, and similar establishments. In this 



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