Deductions Relative to Education 



141 



must be analyzed in terms of knowledge and skill recjuired, and 

 what the pursuit does or does not offer in terms of training for 

 workers and also what the school could i^rofitably offer. 



§3. Courses for Part-Time A'ocational Schools 



Under the provision of the Indiana Vocational Education Law, 

 local boards are authorized to require the attendance upon part- 

 time classes of all youths, gainfully employed, between the ages 

 of 14 to 16, in the pursuits for which part-time education is given. 

 The need for such part-time classes is obvious, but the extent of 

 the need is realized b}^ but few. In Indiana in 1910 there were 

 28,678 boys and 6,005 girls under 16 years of age profitably em- 

 ployed. Although the compulsory school laws have been modified 

 since 1910, in all probability at the present time about 35,000 boys 

 and girls in Indiana under 16 are now profitably employed. 



What type of part-time education shall be provided"? Accord- 

 ing to the law, part-time education, to receive special State aid, 

 must be complementary to the practical w^ork of the profitable 

 employment. It is, therefore, first necessary for communities to 

 ascertain the pursuits in which youths from 14 to 16 are engaged, 

 and, second, to attempt to work out some plan Avhereby the part- 

 time education ma}^ contribute to the success of the youths in 

 their daily pursuits in terms of intelligence and efficiency, promo- 

 tions, and increased wages. 



For this type of vocational part-time education the law has 

 made provision ; and, in those pursuits where youths are ap- 

 prenticed or where lines of promotion are clearly defined, such 

 part-time education will be constructively helpful. If this type 

 of part-time education, for which the law provides State aid, is 

 to be helpful to large numbers of boys and girls under 16, the 

 occupational pursuits open to youths must be so organized as to 

 contain factors for which the schools can train. 



A careful study of the tables herein contained, indicating the 

 specific pursuits of boys and girls under 16 years of age shows the 

 approximate numbers for v/hom part-time vocational education 

 would be possible. For all those under 16 engaged in the agri- 

 cultural pursuits complementary part-time education is possible. 

 'J'his would include about 21,000, the great majority being boys. 

 During the winter months such boys could attend school two or 

 three afternoons each week, and receive instruction in agriculture, 

 which w^ould give meaning and practical help to the work in which 

 they are engaged during the remainder of the year. 



