MANITOWOC SCHOOL OF VOCATIONAL AND ADULT EDUCATION
                        John G. Ausman, Director


    Manitowoc School of Voca-
tional and Adult Education was
organized and established in
1912 as a result of an act of the
State Legislature of 1911, which
provided that all Wisconsin cit-
ies of 5,000 or more population
establish part-time schools for
young workers and adults.
These schools were to be ad-
ministered by a separate Board
of Vocational and Adult Edu-
cation. The legislation estab--
lishing these schools was the
result of a study made by a
legislative interim committee
consisting of President Van Hise
  +11  a+i +) TT.j nl lOU'  .C


Reber of the University Extension Division, State Superintendent Cary of
the State
Department of Public Instruction, Superintendent Pearse of the Milwaukee
Public
Schools, and Charles McCarthy, Legislative Reference Librarian of Wisconsin.
The
study was ordered by the legislature of 1909 and was inspired by McCarthy.
The
interim committee sent him to Europe to make a study of industrial and agricultural
education in Belgium, Germany, Great Britain and other countries, as well
as certain
American cities. McCarthy saw already the importance of providing general
and
practical education opportunities for working children and older people,
for whom, in
that time, educational opportunities usually ceased when employment began.
He
considered this type of education as being so important that it merited separate
ad-
ministration and separate funds to insure its development and growth. Later
legis-
latures have strengthened the laws governing these schools. A State Board
of Voca-
tional and Adult Education was established along with a local board charged
with
the responsibility of administering to the local school. Both state and local
boards
are representative in character and are composed of employer and employee
members,
with the superintendent of schools serving in-an ex-officio capacity.

    The first School of Vocational and Adult Education in Manitowoc started
out
as a girls' school. Mrs. E. Tollefson was the first instructor, -and was
employed on a
part-time basis. She was assigned to teach four afternoons per week and on
the fifth
afternoon she made calls on industrial plants. The school was located in
the Luling
school which now is known as the McKinley school.
    In February 1913, W. F. Weisend, Principal of Luling School, was appointed
di-
rector of the vocational school. He immediately made provisions to incorporate
shop
classes for boys. At this time the school curriculum included drawing, wood-working,
machine shop, and the homemaking classes. There was an enrollment of 166
stu-
dents who attended on a part-time basis during the years 1912-1913. The school
con-
tinued on in this manner until 1920. The first Board of Vocational and Adult
Educa-
tion consisted of the following people:
        J. H. Schroeder--1911-1918
        Max Rahr-- 1911-1914
        H. J. Daeke -1911-1920
        E. J. Morris- 1911-1914
        P. J. Zimmer - 1911-1920, Superintendent of Schools
    W. F. Weisend was the Director in charge from 1913 to 1920. He acted'
in this
capacity on a part-time basis.
    In 1920 the School of Vocational and Adult Education was moved to the
building
formerly used as a dormitory and hospital for war workers during World War
I, and
located at the foot of South 16th Street. The industrial shops and the commercial
department were located on the first floor of the building and the homemaking
and
academic rooms were placed on the second floor. It was at this time that
Mr. L. P.
Whitcomb was appointed as a full-time director. He sefved from 1920 to 1923.
Mr.
A. L. Nimtz was then appointed as director of the school. Under his direction
the


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