By the Smith-Hughes Act of February 22, 1917, both teachers and
supervisors, as well as training for teachers and supervisors in the
fields of agriculture, home economics, industrial and trade subjects,
were provided.[63] The Federal Board for Vocational Education
consisted of the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor, the
United States Commissioner of Education, and three citizens appointed
for terms of three years, at $5,000 a year. One of these three is to
represent the agricultural interests, one the manufacturing interests,
and one labor.
The board was given power to make studies, among other subjects, of
home management and domestic science. While instruction under the
first of these Acts may be given by means of home demonstrations, it
is limited under the second Act to such as can be given in schools and
classes.
This Act provides for co-operative effort between the Federal
government and the states. The large sum of $200,000 for the support
of the board, and considerable sums for certain minimum contingencies,
were appropriated. Major appropriations were provided for, beginning
with $500,000 for paying salaries for teachers and supervisors in
agriculture, and increasing by $250,000 until the sum of $3,000,000
was reached, to be distributed in proportion to rural population
among the states on condition that the states take appropriate action
consenting to the Act and appropriating dollar for dollar (Section 2).
A similar appropriation was provided for the teaching of trade, home
economics, and industrial subjects, beginning with $500,000,
increasing by $250,000 annually, until the amount of $3,000,000 was
reached, this to be appropriated in proportion to the urban population
in the various states. Certain minima were prescribed, and it was laid
down that not more than 20 per cent of the amount allotted for
salaries should go to teachers of home economics (Section 3). No part
of the appropriation is to pay for buildings or for work done in
private institutions (Section 11).
In the same manner as in the earlier Act an initial appropriation of
$500,000 was made toward meeting the cost of training teachers and
supervisors in agricultural trade, home economics, and industrial
subjects, these to increase by installments of $200,000 and then by
$100,000, until $1,000,000 was reached, to be distributed among the
states in proportion to population. Certain conditions were prescribed
as to the action to be taken by the states, and the appropriation by
the state of "dollar for dollar" toward the training of these persons
was required.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account