J Sterling Morton East High School - Mortonian Yearbook (Cicero, IL)

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ITI-IIN THE WALLS OF MCRTON IS QUARTERED AN INDUSTRIAL CENTER CF CVER SIXTEEN HUNDRED YOUNG CITIZENS. This center is known as the Vocational-Indus trial Arts Department. I-Iere boys of all high school ages work together on a schedule planned to challenge their interest in the technical world and prepare them for entrance into useful jobs. - - - Somewhere is written, like father, like son. Approximately six of every ten fathers of Morton students work during normal times in the manufac- turing industries, automobile, building, electrical, etc. These parents want their sons educated and trained for a useful life work. Boys from such surroundings naturally follow home interests into vocational courses. - Previous to 1921, the student interest in shop work pursued only a gener- al manual training course. This experience sent him into different shops but did not provide for specializing in one shop. As a result, men of in- dustry were uninterested in the product. In many quarters, indeed, there was discrimination against high school graduates, the claim being made that they were ill-prepared by the courses they had pursued. - - Leaders of Morton, understanding the demands of the community, pro- vided opportunity to actually train for junior employment in industry. The vocational courses were established for this purpose. - - The first graduates completed their workin 1923. Today the list of grad- uates, practically all of whom graduated from the four-year course as well, number almost nineteen hundred. This roll, established through a span of twelve years, almost one-half of which has been during a national de- pression, reveals that the great majority are employed in their chosen oc- cupations. ----- The results of the Vocational Department may be credited to the selection of equipment according to the demands of industry and the manning of these shops and drafting rooms by instructors selected with pains-taking care. The instructors not only must have had the best technical and pro- fessional training but also experience in industry. - - - Much of the work of vocational students is the repair, replacement, or enlargement of equipment for the department. One-third of all equip- ment has been created by the students who use it. The building of twen-

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ty-four drafting tables for room 301, the re-building of a like number of tables in room 304, the complete motorization of the Industrial Arts Ma- chine Shop are but a few examples. A liberal policy on the part of local in- dustries through loans or gifts has made it possible for students to par- ticipate in the valuable experience of re-building and servicing machines and equipment. ..... Boys of the Vocational Department pay shop fees and purchase mater- ials used in personal jobs. The department is self-supporting, as far as the cost of instructional material is concerned. The cost is further lessened by state and federal aid which pays approximately one-half of all vocational instructors' salaries. ----- Vocational classes are composed of selected boys who have passed through an Industrial Arts experience which helped them to make a choice and prove their interest and ability. The training of the vocational students duplicates the practices and standards of industry. Each student, before graduation, secures twelve hundred training hours in his major shop. Vo- cational boys carry the heaviest clock-hour schedule of any students in Morton. They must excel in their related academic subjects as well as in shop work. Later in life, if they care to pursue engineering courses, they have the required entrance credits. - - - Upon graduation, the department cooperates in placement on the job. The Vocational Director makes every effort to assist graduates who have difficulty in securing employment. Most industrial plants of this area give preference to Morton's Vocational students, realizing the advantage of employees selected and trained by the Morton system. - - When placed, the vocational student is not forgotten. The department keeps in touch with his progress. Periodically a survey of graduates is made. As a result, students, even though out of school ten years or more, feel that their old instructors are interested in their careers and stand by to help, if possible, when needed. - - - Thus, the Vocational Department meets the purpose for which it exists, namely, to give a genuine opportunity for every student to choose, prove his choice by try-out, and train for his life work in some technical indus- trial field. -----