Camden County Vocational School - Vocationalist Yearbook (Pennsauken, NJ)

Page 14 text:

A PRQPGRIESSIIVIE, RIEWARD In the'second school year, 1929-1930, a course in Aircraft and Aircraft Mechanics was opened in the Day School with Arthur E. Arrowsmith as the instructor. Congressman Charles A. Wolverton assisted the school to secure over 860,000 worth of equipment, including aircraft and aircraft engines from,the Bureau of Aeronautics. The following year, an additional 840,000 worth of equipment was obtained from the Armed Services. Both ship- ments were procured without cost to the school. The year closed with our first commencement. Sixty-four students were graduated from the two- year courses. In 1930-31, courses in Radio Mechanics and Welding were added to the Day School. Commencement exercises were held in June for seventy-nine graduates, which included our first graduates from the three- year COUFSCS. 1931-32 brought expansion to the Night School. Saturday morning classes were operated for employed men who could not be accommodated in the Evening Classes. This program was so very successful that it has been carried on continuously since 1931. The school year of 1932-33 was troublesome, but it ended successfully, despite the seriousness of the depression. In the late fall, the Board of Free- holders proposed closing the Vocational School because of lack of funds to continue its operation. Many active, alert citizens realized that during periods of high unemployment, schools perform a dual purpose. Besides providing the usual training, they keep youth constructively occupied. These citizens, 22,000 of them, signed petitions to keep the Vocational School open. This was done. In four short years, the school had justified itself and proven its worth to the taxpayers of the Co,unty. On May 10, 1933, the school held its tirst Open House Night. The Day School students returned to school at 7:00 P.M. and put on a demonstration of their'regular activities in the shops, laboratories, ppb,-fTg Q ,,,. LII , , 'qi rg dgefti 'if and classrooms. Due to wide publicity and the interest in the school because of the proposed closing by the Board of Freeholders, over ten thousand people visited the school. This practice has continued and Open House is usually held in Ma . Duiling 1933-34, the Aircraft and Aircraft Engine Mechanics shop reconditioned an early Wright biplane. The Franklin Museum had purchased this plane for the museum and requested that the reconditioned machine be authentic in every detail. Arrangements were made for Mr. Orville Wright to visit the school and advise the students regard- ing the design and construction of the plane. Mr. Wright and several nationally known aeronautical engineers came to the school at various times during the year. They carefully inspected the work of the students as the reconditioning progressed. When the work on the plane was completed, it was flown on several test flights at the Central Airport in Camden. The plane at present is in the Aviation Section of the Franklin Museum. In 1934-35, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration constructed a 36' by 100' addition to the greenhouse. The new unit was needed to provide space for offices, classroom, washrooms and head house. Many shops and students took part in the planning and building of this project. During this same year, the F.E.R.A. workers graded the athletic field and constructed a quarter- mile track, painted the exterior sash and re- pointed some stonework. 1935-36 marked the organization of the first class in Television at the Vocational School. This was an evening class in Television Theory organized at the request of mechanics in the Radio industry. 1938-39 was a stellar year for the Vocational School. A committee for the Cooperative Study of Secondary School Standards completed an

Page 13 text:

1 1 --,-as f I I I l e l I ,.7,.,,-o ... '5 - . ,.,r.aaa.-saumww N vu.: Al SCQIHIOQIL QDPIENS , , , course of training given in the evening at the courthouse. The Board of Education selected the teachers from the eligible ones of this group, An attractive bulletin describing the various courses to be offered was distributed. Immediately, a lively interest was shown by the general public. Enrollments quickly filled all possible openings in the Day School. Monday, October 15, 1928, the Camden County Vocational School opened its doors to four hundred eager Day School students. They were coming to a new kind of schoolg a school of shops, where they would be taught trade skills for three hours each day. They were the lucky ones because they had enrolled months before the scheduled opening. Many of their friends were on long waiting lists as the applicants greatly outnumbered the school's capacity. They walked. They rode bicycles. The nearby com- munities did not provide transportation. Bus service was supplied only by the more distant school districts in the lower end of the county. Yet, they came, four hundred strong. You see, these students knew they had an unusual opportunity, an opportunity never offered before to the youth of South jersey. They knew that at this new school they could learn skills that would give them entrance to industry and well paid jobs. New experiences were ahead. Experiences, which time has proven, did lead to good jobs. A number of these first students are now executives and leaders in industry. No wonder, they are boosters of the Vocational School! Coming up the broad concrete walk, the students saw a stately building. Its newness shone in the sun. Its classic lines stood out boldly, accented by the lack of shrubbery, lawn or trees. But the familiar red, white and blue banner flew in the breeze, making all feel more at home. In the spacious main lobby, the students were greeted informally and assisted to find their home rooms by cards of admittance which had been mailed to them. Before noon, all were quietly moving on prearranged schedules. The Day School was now operating smoothly, with a maximum enrollment. Full attention could then be given to providing instruction for men employed in the various industries of the county. Many had expressed keen interest in the school. They were anxiously awaiting the opportunity to improve their craftsmanship. On Wednesday, November 7, 1928, the first eve- ning classes were held. The enrollment for the first year of operation of the Night School was 756.

Page 15 text:

N limo IHIIISTDRY .1 -s. in , .. -.- . 3. .S . . V' Q, , WML. ,Wi ...M i, C, ,.,f-wwf' '-.,' ,. R - . X :!N . A ., , f - . a im -, -ew . I Wa- ' t at.. rv .- , i . ' QQ-7 A ' f A . 5. - - R' - A 1 1' 4 l- IP 1 l H. Nt is S 115 . 1, ll a f-3, -f' X as I gl l 'Il 7 I il . Y 3 .' Q 'flfff 6. 1 i :tl ' 4 ' ' 1:1 ' ,Pi r l il lg ig' l iifilffi D f-'K ' V- HQ Q f V fs- ' In L sf N I i '75 if 235 ' . s -3 'f . .4 , , ' 4. .21 .Tnff 1 i . s f I ,Q T-'55'?f . 4 g . 3 - ' ' ' Y' 1 Us ., gllf by W 3 ' ' ' . - ' -' 4 'JH' LQ . 13? . ' ' f i f-1 pin 3, .' ,.- ,r f 'ls 'T. . J ,V , . tif-,' fir.: f l y! I x -A li V. ,. . ' , -'E'ffQ, ' ' -fgffii 1: girl? i 'J.j:,fl..,rQ. I, 'QQ -wa azz. +42 A evaluation survey. Only direct quotes can be given without seeming to boast. ' The Camden County Vocational School is doing definitely superior work in meeting so satisfactorily the vocational needs of the boys and girls, especially the boys, of Camden County . . The visiting committee was especially impressed by the competency of the administrative staff and the teaching staff. All seemed to be carrying on their respective duties in a highly efhcient manner. There was an especially fine attitude of cooperation between pupils and teachers. In November of 1938, George Scheers, Archi- tectural Drafting instructor, was appointed the first Apprentice Coordinator and Placement Officer. William l-l. Stewart was employed as instructor to replace Mr. Scheers and continued in that position until the course was closed in June 1942, due to lack of applicants. The National Defense Training Program was organized in july 1940, to train workers for indus- tries engaged in making war materials, Edward H. Bohn, Science Instructor, was appointed Supervisor of War Production Training, Theodore L. Nitka was employed to fill the vacancy in the Science Department. The War Production program operated for almost five years and trained 21,055 workers for the industries of the Camden area. The Federal Government bore the entire cost, almost 35-47,000. The classes operated on three eight-hour shifts, around the clock. Two-hundred-three instructors were employed. The results obtained in the War Training classes reflect great credit upon Mr. Bohn and his instructors. Ji fy pf fd. .QW A a QI 3 E , wit? A