December 14, 1977 Matoney speaks to Governor’s Council on Vo-Tech John Matoney John E. Matoney of Florin, director of the Pennsylvania Common- wealth’s Apprenticeship and Training Council, tes- tified last Monday before the Governor’s Council on Vocational Education in Philadelphia. He addressed his remarks to the status of the Vo-Tech schools. Matoney told the Go- vernor’s Council that there isn’t anything wrong with the Vo-Tech schools; if Vo-Tech graduates have trouble finding jobs, he said, it’s the fault of the larger society for not providing the openings. Matoney began-his ad- dress by noting that he himself had graduated from the Patton School in Eliza- bethtown, where he accum- ulated 2000 hours of masonry and 1000 hours of machine shop training. For twenty years after that, he said, he put that training to use as a mason. Thus, he said, he is well qualified to comment on the Vo-Tech schools. : Matoney then told the Council that he had conducted a survey of Vo-Tech program sponsors. This study was in the form of a 6-question questionaire w FOUNDED 1889 MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY MARIETTA, PENNA. which was sent to 200 sponsors. The results of this sur- vey, which generated a 48% response, are as follows: 18% of the respon- -dents rated their local Vo-Tech schools excellent, and 52% rated them good. 63% said that they recruit workers from the schools. 7% rated Vo-Tech grad- uates’ work excellent, 43%: said it was good, and 25% said fair. Mr. Matoney told the group that he himself has a very high opinion of Vo-Tech. He noted that the survey covered a small sample (there are 200,000 employ- ers in the state), but he noted that any indication is valuable, since the attitude . of employers toward Vo -Tech is all-important when the Vo-Tech grad goes looking for a job. The job market has been tight for some three years now, Matoney said. There are thousands of skilled but jobless people. He noted that the new Volkswagen plant in Westmoreland County got 10 times the number of job applicants it needed. He expressed the opinion that the major challenge facing the Vo-Tech schools today is making sure that the graduates have not only good training, but training in a area where jobs are available. In closing, Matoney stated that the burden on the Vo-Tech schools can be lightened by carrying out policies and programs aimed at creating jobs. ““The Vo-Tech schools can turn out well trained, moti- vated potential workers,”’ he said; ‘It is really up to the economic system, and to our National leadership, to make sure that they have the jobs in which to use their skills.” Donegal Mutual Insurance Company ROUTE no. 441 BY-PASS MARIETTA, PENNSYLVANIA 1754] SUSQUEHAM"'A TIMES—Page 11 Limit light-burning. ;% time on decorations... «EY Candlestick style lights placed inside windows can be convenient and effective substitutes for strings of outdoor Christmas lights. If you're going to bake, fully utilize your oven (more than one pie, Avoid high-wattage X flood lights and bulbs. Using miniature indoor tree lights can save. Take advantage of : { holiday-meal left-overs . . . save on cooking time. “Saving energy . . . Save automatic dishwashing and laundering chores Turn thermostat down : when you're away visiting . . . if going away more than 2 days, turn electric water heater off. Use energy-saving recipes for holiday meals. til after 7 p.m. using full loads. Don’t forget to keep fireplace damper closed when not
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