Pine Mountain Settlement School
Series 02: GOVERNANCE – Directors
GLYN MORRIS
WRITING
“A Program Recommended Towards Meeting Vocational Guidance
Needs of Rural Youth”
[Paper prepared for the President’s Committee on Vocational Education, 1937]
“Print Shop, 1948. Hoid Brown, Billy Gus Howard, Mr. Nichols.” [nace_II_album_038.jpg]
TAGS: Vocational Guidance, rural youth, educational programs in rural areas, Glyn Morris, President’s Committee on Vocational Education, Alliance for Guidance of Rural Youth
GLYN MORRIS 1937 WRITING
“Program Recommended Towards Meeting Vocational Guidance Needs of Rural Youth”
Morris, Glyn. A Program Recommended Towards Meeting Vocational Guidance Needs of Rural Youth — With Special Reference to Those in the Less Privileged Rural Areas. Prepared for the President’s Committee on Vocational Education, at the Request of Its Vocational Guidance Consultant, By the Alliance for Guidance of Rural Youth, March 1937, Alliance for Guidance of Rural Youth, Formerly Southern Women’s Educational Alliance 401-02, Grace-American Building, Richmond, Virginia.
A PROGRAM RECOMMENDED TOWARDS MEETING
VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE NEEDS OF RURAL YOUTH
PREFATORY
Allowing of course, for some exceptions, so strong is our tradition of Agriculture Uber Allies,” quote, that it still seems half-radical to reflect to the slightest degree on the utmost that the good earth can do to care for the many millions of rural young people who are being born. Close to it. But it is nonetheless true that this overpowering concept in the public. In the public mind and in public and private agencies. And provisions is more. Is more than half-throttling, vitally needed, progressive. Along other lines in its very beginnings in thousands, perhaps, even millions of. Called agricultural committees. Naturally, agriculture is basic and must be fostered, but its limitations are many.
The situation could be. Could be greatly helped if the national state. National state and other public thinking and programs showed the realization of the fact that agriculture has been a declining occupation since 1870. Also if it were known that in the more prosperous farming areas where agricultural machinery most abounds, this fact. This fact, in itself, continues with increasing rapidity to reduce. To reduce the percentage of people needed for farming much more attention would then be given to other possibilities for earning.
Such an opening up. Of other small possibilities. And the gradual expansion of them through adequate vocational guidance, training and placement in relation to them is. For many. For very many of these communities the only hope. And a highly interesting one too, as regards either rural living itself or the. Hour of rural areas to hold these young people who are their best hope for the future This is not to say that many of these communities seem likely to develop any large manufacturing concerns that they. Or that they should even concentrate to. Any degree on a single industry, but that. But in. Wake of improving roads in schools of. Fix for rural electrification and this and that, chances.
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For new occupational developments often to involve opportunities for only a few at first, are developing in a variety of directions. And are already being sensed and seized upon by various types of urban adventurers into the rural field. But The opportunity in most of these directions, meantime, is being lost by rural youth, because they and their elders lack the occupational information and the earlier contacts and sophistication needed by then for wise action now.
Moreover. In other directions, not yet sought out by any outsiders. Opportunity is also being lost by lack of rural occupational research into such situations and of translation of its results into vocational guidance and training of the young people themselves.
There they are, however on the sidelines watching, the in-rush of chain stores in businesses of various kinds, including the business school chains. Soon there will be chain hotels and restaurants and a variety of improved housing, and food services, beauty parlors, et cetera, from city centers instead. Ability for the young people themselves through. Authentic information and low. And local or regional training to be able to participate in and take. Over many such constructive enterprises Themselves. They are watching out on the sidelines too. The growing procession of city professionals who come. Who come to perform services as engineers Forestry officials. Or other specialists of many kinds. They are wondering where they can fit into these developments and how they can best prepare themselves for them.
VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE NEEDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
I The Lack of “Information About Rural Occupations.
There has never been any authentic national state. Or regional study of rural occupations, or even of rural occupational trends, such study should be a part of any national occupational service not only as a right for rural youth, but to round out the national view and take. And take in the national flow of occupational life.
Fact finding is needed now as never before. About actual and possible, rural occupations of the community, the county and the region. This information is basic to vocational counseling.
3; vocational education and placement.
Continuously to date. The vague concept of Agriculture as 100% opportunity for rural youth, or nearly so, is throttling the public mind. Public sense of responsibility and most. Such public and private agencies as. Interested in rural youth, as well as most. Most plans and provisions made in its behalf. Such a concept is disastrously out of date and needs revamping from every point of view Rural occupational research is translated into an actual balanced book. Vocational guidance information is the answer and the provision for it is vital to national welfare as well as to rural youth.
II Vocational Counseling.
This is a double need because. Rural young people face. Potentially, the necessity for decision about going to the city In countless communities, they face the necessity for moving to other areas for any success in farming. Most. Regions are in highly transitional stages at present because of rd development, improving schools rural electrification, problems concerned with agricultural opportunities and so forth. Every rural boy and girl needs personal interpretation of these transitional changes.
Vocational counseling requires besides the flow of occupational information mentioned above, counselors trained in the study of the individual and otherwise. Prepared for guidance service There is little expectation that the smaller rural schools will ever have special counselors Teachers in these schools must be prepared to serve. Under a trained itinerant county councilor or supervisor, as teacher counselors. High schools cannot function effectively for vocational guidance, without provision of appreciable time for individual counseling, record keeping, et cetera,
Subsidy for vocational education programs should include provision on grade school levels for vocational guidance supervision
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and teacher training on the job both in special institutions and in follow-up itinerant supervision of a trained county counselor or supervisor. High school teachers. Should have had or secure longer time courses in guidance besides training on the job, as school counselor must also coordinate guidance activities there. With time allowances for teaching.
Some typical guideline problems of rural young people
- Change of residence.
Maximum need for rural counseling is vast numbers of. Rural areas because of the problem of whether to go elsewhere or stay confront rural young people. As it does not automatically. Confront urban ones. e.g., Going to the city or going to better farming areas. - The place of agriculture in the county outlook. Its place in his or her vocational future — there or elsewhere.
- Chances in non-agricultural jobs and occupations needing local development.
- Possibilities in kinds of agricultural occupations other than farming and the training needed for them.
- Various other special vocational guidance needs have already been implied in earlier sections of this outline.
III. Vocational Education – Recommendations
Presupposing occupational fact-finding study of the individual boy and girl and counseling in the selection of training is based on the resulting information. The following recommendations are made in regard to vocational education. All of its basic features have already been approved by the trustees of the National Vocational Guidance Association, and are being incorporated
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incorporated into its own recommendations to the President’s Committee on Vocational Education, as the report of the NVGA Rural Section. The writer of this present report directs.*
FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS – Because grade schools are still terminal of education for from 70 to 90% of rural youth in especially underprivileged areas, and their lack of training bridges grave social consequences, it is recommended that basic instruction be made available in these schools:
In shop work use of tools chiefly for home repairs in the making of simple, useful home articles EG pig troughs gates
In simplified home economics with home and school practices in care of children, food preparation and services and other home assistance Note tell Those concerning this were worked out and are available through Miss Clara Brown of the president’s committee
In agricultural projects and through interpretation of local conditions affecting agriculture.
Proposes to be served by such. Instruction includes some home improvement exploration of interest and abilities, development of some earning power as an aid to further education through assets for part-time employment beginning of training, et cetera,
Procedures suggested
(1) Experimentation and demonstration at first in a few groups of schools representing different types of areas.
(2) Provision of itinerant instructors to train teachers in small schools — first by institutes and then through school visiting and supervision.
*This part of the report, especially that concerning home economics simplifications, has been worked out in much consultation with Miss Clara Brown of the President’s Committee Staff, on the outline for shop work, the editor was especially advised by Dr, Fred C. Smith, Dean of the University of Tennessee; Leonard M. Miller, Supervisor of Guidance in Rockland, County, N.Y.; Otis Amis of the Kentucky WYA and others.
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Doctor Fred C. Suggests that with average road conditions. 10 schools might be included in a group with a. Day, a week spent by the instructor at each school. This would vary with the local conditions. Local possibilities for equipment we? Usually need supplementing.
Such training opportunities should begin at least with the end of Compulsory Education and as much earlier as possible..
For High Schools Are Needed
Constant. Provision for exploration and tryout.
Broader realization of and approach to the underlying problems of vocational education in high schools in such areas.
As part of this more emphasis upon basic skills for all, especially in shop work that can be turned toward various specializations.
Avoidance of too early specializations but opening up of a wider range of occupational vistas.
Less emphasis upon vocational agriculture in areas unfavorable to agriculture. But opportunity for all students through shorter time requirements to acquire agricultural intelligence and outlook as well as some skills through simple projects The same generalization applies to home economics, and there is urgent need that such teachers be on the average, far better prepared to meet rural problems A very. Important point closer correlation of any vocational educational offerings with general guidance objectives and procedures in the concept of well rounded development of the individual boy and girl As at present, constituted conditions for securing and offerings often. Unintentionally, for such misguidance upon the schools, on the other hand, agricultural and home economics, high school curricula, contain important guidance factors in emphasis upon home visits and projects.
Regional Vocational Schools
Throughout much consultation. General approval was found of a plan for regional schools if they were to carry the implications
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already set up here as to vocational guidance in relation to vocational education.
This would necessitate —
Regional occupational research for determining the occupations for which to train primarily, although not exclusively, counseling to any extent needed in the. In the light of such research,
Counseling regarding occupations outside the area.
Placement and provisions when desirable for tryouts and apprenticeships
Regional schools would probably require dormitories from the beginning. County schools might operate from the beginning through bus transportation, although students from parts of almost any county would need local accommodations and should come with some skill to help to earn this Federal student aid midway in amount between that for high school and for college students, could reasonably supplement this In some cases, excellent mission school plants might Conceivably be offered for initial experimental programs.
Some Groups Who n=might be Served by Regional Vocational Schools
These desiring to specialize beyond the high school level in trades, industries or other occupations characteristic of the region involved. Or of such types of regions.
Others who could wisely understand. Undertake the training on lower educational levels with help in rising 2 levels needed during the training.
High school graduates exploring themselves in relation to later training on professional levels.
Miscellaneous types of students might. As might present themselves convincingly for admission..
Suggested Types of Training — based on a continuous survey of area occupational needs and possibilities, and on the study of individual needs.
Fundamental shop work for those needing it. Such specializations as auto mechanics, and electrification of various types.
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Such building trades as carpentry in. Brick and Stone Masonry feed. And housing occupations other than building ones. Personal service occupations of kinds suited to such regions. Miscellaneous.
IV – PLACEMENT
There is a major need for rural junior placement bureau. Crowned in guidance in so far as we know, none have been established by the NYA federal program and the. Junior employment service. Jointly or separately, and there seems to be. Authority for the assumption that no such plan is in view.
This mission means of course, the following conditions.
This lack of placement leaves argument for high school education. Education in. Lines of rural young people very unsatisfactory as to rural opportunities, even if training is secured. It is. It is also a ground for their resentment as to being discriminated against.
It encourages undue emphasis on seeking occupation in the city because. Because placement centers are to be found only there.
It increases the national. The national tendency to neglect provision of information about rural occupations because there. Because there are no rural placement centers to require them.
Furthermore, since lack of rural occupational research in a rural placement bureaus renders the placement canters, which do exist incapable of advising adequately about rural occupations, rural young people seeking placement through such centers are naturally unlikely to return to their own areas in jobs secured. This further depletes rural areas of many young people competent to develop new occupations in rural areas. Rural areas need their own junior placement centers and its vital to both national and rural welfare for such centers to be provided.
END
[IMAGES PENDING]
SEE ALSO:
GLYN MORRIS 1931-1977 Guide to Talks, Writings, and Publications
