Ohio Mechanics Institute - OMIA Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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$39 $ $ $2$$ JOHN THEODORE FAIG President Ohio Mechanics Institute Q$QWQV$$$$$ $ $$$$$ $$$$$$ 3$ $ !$$$6$$ Adgjt?f?$ fat?

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?OUR YREHDEVT SAY? .1 During the past year the number of civilian students has increased in a gratifying manner in both day and evening classes over the pre- ceding; year. The intensive classes established in 1919 and the power laundry course established in 1920 have continued to develop in a sat- isfactory manner and appear to fill a distinct need. The graduates of the intensive classes mentioned in this book represent the third intensive class to he graduated. Almost without exception the graduates of the intensive and power laundry courses are engaged in the work for which they were prepared. The technical high school courses have shown strength this year and the senior class, while not large, took an unusual part in various student activities. A council of student representatives, which shared With the faculty the regulation of those student affairs in which the students are more vitally interested than the faculty, is apparently meeting with con- siderable approval on the part of the student body generally. The past year saw a gradual reduction in the number of students who were sent by the U. S. Government for training in various lines. Altogether considerably more than a thousand such students have been at the Institute since the Government inaugurated the scheme for the training of wounded veterans in 1918. At the peak load the Institute had nearly 400 of them. Last September there were about 250 ex- service students and in May about 150. The number of ex-service men at the Institute during the coming year will be small. The general public is not aware of the tremendous problem that the training of ex-serviee men presented nor of the undoubted good that Was accomplished. The task was great and urgent. The hospitals of the country were overtaxed and the laws under which C Gnrtwlmn-n training had to be given were imperfect because of the haste with which they had to be enacted. The organization had to be thrown together in a great hurry. Under the circumstances there were vexatious delays in some cases and possibly some mistakes. In the main however, the country has handled the situation reasonably well. While the amount of money expended by the nation in supporting and training over a hundred thousand young men throughout a period of years has been enormous, this expenditure can be considered With a certain amount of equanimity because the work is constructive and not destructive. Many ex-service students have left the Institute to follow lines of Work of which they knew nothing when they arrived, in which they are now reasonably competent. The Institute is proud to have had its share in this great work. It had to begin several new courses that will disappear with the passing of the ex-service men. One new course that probably will remain is that in watch and clock repairing. No statement of the yearls work, however brief, is complete With- out mention of the newly-organized alumni association, for which the Institute is indebted to the energy and devotion of a small group of graduates, Whose efforts deserve to be crowned with success. 3 .