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Dedication of Kent Skill Center, Grand Rapids, MI, November 7, 1971
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4526382
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Dedication of Kent Skill Center, Grand Rapids, MI, November 7, 1971
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
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1971
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The original documents are located in Box D32, folder "Dedication of Kent Skill Center,
Grand Rapids, MI, November 7, 1971" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary
and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box D32 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
DEDICATION OF THE NEW KENT SKILL CENTER
1655 E. BELTLINE, N.E., GRAND RAPIDS
MICHIGAN, 2 PM NOVEMBER 7, 1971.
HENRY ADAMS ONCE WROTE:
"NOTHING IN EDUCATION IS SO ASTONISHING
AS THE AMOUNT OF IGNORANCE IT ACCUMULATES
IN THE FORM OF INERT FACTS."
WHATEVER PROMPTED ADAMS'
REMARK, HE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT VOCATIONAL EDUCATION OR A SKILL
CENTER BECAUSE THE TOOLS OF VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION ARE LIVELY FACTS, FACTS THAT
CAN BE PUT TO GOOD USE.
I HAVE LONG FELT THAT OUR
NATION'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD BROADEN
THEIR HORIZONS AND SEEK NEW SUMMITS--STRIVE
TO PROVIDE GREATER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
GERALD
LIBRARY
-2-
FOR ALL OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. I HAVE FELT
THAT WAY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF THE VERY
KIND OF BUILDING WE ARE DEDICATING HERE
TODAY -- THE SKILL CENTER.
I DEPLORE THE PHILOSOPHY OF
SOME EDUCATORS WHO INSIST UPON TREATING
EVERY STUDENT AS THOUGH HE WERE COLLEGE
MATERIAL.
I AM HAPPY TO SEE THE GROWTH
OF SKILL CENTERS IN and THIS move + COUNTRY more am bey butt AM Any.
TREMENDOUSLY PLEASED TO SEE THIS
MAGNIFICENT SKILL CENTER HERE IN KENT
COUNTY. I AM PARTICULARLY PLEASED THAT
THIS SKILL CENTER AND SKILL CENTER NO. 2
WHICH IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION NEXT TO CENTRAL
HIGH SCHOOL SYMBOLIZE THE BEST IN LOCAL
STATE AND FEDERAL COOPERATION.
THE FACT THAT THE VOTERS OF
KENT INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT
BERALD FORD
-3-
WOULD APPROVE A $6 MILLION BOND ISSUE TO
FINANCE THE TWO SKILL CENTERS IS A TRIBUTE
TO THEIR FAITH IN OUR KENT COUNTY SCHOOLS
AND OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. THE FACT THAT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTED $2 MILLION
IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FUNDS TO THE
FINANCING OF THE TWO SKILL CENTERS POINTS
UP THE WISDOM OF THE LOCAL-FEDERAL
PARTNERSHIP IN THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AREA.
FROM ITS INCEPTION, VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
HAS BEEN A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THE GREAT
BENEFIT THAT CAN ACCRUE TO THIS NATION
FROM COOPERATION AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND
FEDERAL LEVELS.
FORD is LIBRARY GERALD
TODAY WE DEDICATE A SKILL
CENTER WHICH IS A RESPONSE TO A DEFINITE
to gove specialogy technicat troum to our youth and to park reserved
a
NEED NOT SOME BUREAUCRAT'S DREAM. THIS
SKILL CENTER WILL FILL A VOID WHICH HAS 78KILL our
LONG EXISTED IN THE GRAND RAPIDS AREA. Specy-
DAVIS TECK
-4-
A SKILL CENTER OF THIS KIND IS A NATURAL
DEVELOPMENT IN A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE ECONOMY
WHICH IS DEMANDING THE PERSONNEL NEEDED
TO FILL CERTAIN JOBS IN GROWTH FIELDS AND
IS INSISTING UPON EXCELLENCE.
IT WAS A FORMER HEALTH-EDUCATION
AND-WELFARE DEPARTMENT SECRETARY WHO SAID:
"THE SOCIETY WHICH SCORNS EXCELLENCE IN
PLUMBING BECAUSE PLUMBING IS A HUMBLE
ACTIVITY AND TOLERATES SHODDINESS IN
PHILOSOPHY BECAUSE IT IS AN EXALTED
ACTIVITY WILL HAVE NEITHER GOOD PLUMBING
NOR GOOD PHILOSOPHY. NEITHER ITS PIPES NOR
ITS THEORIES WILL HOLD WATER."
ONE THEORY THAT WILL HOLD
WATER IS THAT SKILL CENTERS LIKE THIS ONE
ARE HELPING US APPROACH EXCELLENCE IN
EDUCATION AND MAKE PROGRESS TOWARD OUR
NATIONAL GOAL OF EQUALITY OF EDUCATIONAL
FORD LIBRARY
OPPORTUNITY.
-5-
IT IS AN INERT FACT OF THE
KIND HENRY ADAMS SPOKE OF THAT 75 PER CENT
OF AMERICA'S YOUNG PEOPLE DO NOT GRADUATE
FROM A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.
FROM THAT INERT FACT WE MUST PROCEED TO
THE INEVITABLE CONCLUSION THAT FAR MORE
EMPHASIS SHOULD BE PLACED UPON VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION THAN IS NOW THE CASE.
INSTEAD OF AN ALMOST EXCLUSIVE
CONCENTRATION ON COLLEGE PREPARATORY
PROGRAMS IN HIGH SCHOOLS, THE GOAL SHOULD
BE TO MEET EVERY STUDENT'S NEEDS. THAT
GOAL SHOULD TRANSLATE ITSELF INTO JUST ONE
OBJECTIVE -- EXCELLENCE -- WHETHER THE
INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED IS DESTINED TO BECOME
A DOCTOR OF MEDICINE OR A PLUMBER.
THIS NEW SKILL CENTER, I FEEL
SURE, IS DEDICATED TO EXCELLENCE. IT WILL
TURN OUT HIGHLY SKILLED AND EFFICIENT
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
-6-
WORKERS OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS. IT WILL FILL
THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE. IT WILL FILL THE
NEEDS OF KENT COUNTY STUDENTS. I
CONGRATULATE EVERY ONE OF YOU HERE ON THIS
SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT, AND I AM MOST PROUD
THAT YOUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT 10/10 joined hands with
to contribute
local educators + cataying
GONTRIBUTING $2 MILLION TOWARD THE OVERALL
COST OF THE TWO SKILL CENTERS PLANNED FOR
OUR FINE CITY AND ITS PROGRESSIVE NEIGHBORS.
END : :
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
Distribution: 5th District news media
Maffice Copy
REMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH.
REPUBLICAN LEADER, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
UPON DEDICATION OF THE NEW KENT SKILL CENTER
1655 E. BELTLINE, N.E.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
2 P.M. NOVEMBER 7, 1971
FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY
Henry Adams once wrote: "Nothing in education is so astonishing as the
amount of ignorance it accumulates in the form of inert facts."
Whatever prompted Adams' remark, he could not have been talking about
vocational education or a skill center because the tools of vocational education
are lively facts, facts that can be put to good use.
I have long felt that our nation's public schools should broaden their
horizons and seek new summits--strive to provide greater educational opportunities
for all of our young people. I have felt that way because of the lack of the very
kind of building we are dedicating here today--the skill center.
I deplore the philosophy of some educators who insist upon treating every
student as though he were college material.
I am happy to see the growth of skill centers in this country. I am
tremendously pleased to see this magnificent skill center here in Kent County.
I am particularly pleased that this skill center and skill center No. 2 which is
under construction next to Central High School symbolize the best in local, State
and Federal cooperation.
The fact that the voters of Kent Intermediate School District would approve
a $6 million bond issue to finance the two skill centers is a tribute to their
faith in our Kent County schools and our young people. The fact that the Federal
Government contributed $2 million in vocational education funds to the financing
of the two skill centers points up the wisdom of the local-Federal partnership in
the vocational education area. From its inception, vocational education has been
a shining example of the great benefit that can accrue to this Nation from
cooperation at the local, State and Federal levels.
Today we dedicate a skill center which is a response to a definite need,
not some bureaucrat's dream. This skill center will fill a void which has long
existed in the Grand Rapids area. A skill center of this kind is a natural
development in a private enterprise economy which is demanding the personnel
(more)
--2-
needed to fill certain jobs in growth fields and is insisting upon excellence.
It was a former Health-Education-and-Welfare Department secretary who
said: "The society which scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a
humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted
activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy. Neither its pipes
nor its theories will hold water."
One theory that will hold water is that skill centers like this one are
helping us approach excellence in education and make progress toward our national
goal of equality of educational opportunity.
It is an inert fact of the kind Henry Adams spoke of that 75 per cent of
America's young people do not graduate from a four-year college or university.
From that inert fact we must proceed to the inevitable conclusion that far more
emphasis should be placed upon vocational education than is now the case.
Instead of an almost exclusive concentration on college preparatory
programs in high schools, the goal should be to meet every student's needs. That
goal should translate itself into just one objective--excellence--whether the
individual involved is destined to become a doctor of medicine or a plumber.
This new skill center, I feel sure, is dedicated to excellence. It will
turn out highly skilled and efficient workers of all descriptions. It will fill
the needs of people. It will fill the needs of Kent County students. I
congratulate every one of you here on this splendid achievement, and I am most
proud that your Federal Government is contributing $2 million toward the overall
cost of the two skill centers planned for our fine city and its progressive
neighbors.
# # #
REMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH.
REPUBLICAN LEADER, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
UPON DEDICATION OF THE NEW KENT SKILL CENTER
1655 E. BELTLINE, N.E.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
2 P.M. NOVEMBER 7, 1971
FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY
Henry Adams once wrote: "Nothing in education is so astonishing as the
amount of ignorance it accumulates in the form of inert facts."
Whatever prompted Adams' remark, he could not have been talking about
vocational education or a skill center because the tools of vocational education
are lively facts, facts that can be put to good use.
I have long felt that our nation's public schools should broaden their
horizons and seek new summits--strive to provide greater educational opportunities
for all of our young people. I have felt that way because of the lack of the very
kind of building we are dedicating here today-the skill center.
I deplore the philosophy of some educators who insist upon treating every
student as though he were college material.
I am happy to see the growth of skill centers in this country. I am
tremendously pleased to see this magnificent skill center here in Kent County.
I am particularly pleased that this skill center and skill center No. 2 which is
under construction next to Central High School symbolize the best in local, State
and Federal cooperation.
The fact that the voters of Kent Intermediate School District would approve
a $6 million bond issue to finance the two skill centers is a tribute to their
faith in our Kent County schools and our young people. The fact that the Federal
Government contributed $2 million in vocational education funds to the financing
of the two skill centers points up the wisdom of the local-Federal partnership in
the vocational education area. From its inception, vocational education has been
a shining example of the great benefit that can accrue to this Nation from
cooperation at the local, State and Federal levels.
Today we dedicate a skill center which is a response to a definite need,
not some bureaucrat's dream. This skill center will fill a void which has long
existed in the Grand Rapids area. A skill center of this kind is a natural
development in a private enterprise economy which is demanding the personnel
(more)
-2-
needed to fill certain jobs in growth fields and is insisting upon excellence.
It was a former Health-Education-and-Welfare Department secretary who
said: "The society which scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a
humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted
activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy. Neither its pipes
nor its theories will hold water."
One theory that will hold water is that skill centers like this one are
helping us approach excellence in education and make progress toward our national
goal of equality of educational opportunity.
It is an inert fact of the kind Henry Adams spoke of that 75 per cent of
America's young people do not graduate from a four-year college or university.
From that inert fact we must proceed to the inevitable conclusion that far more
emphasis should be placed upon vocational education than is now the case.
Instead of an almost exclusive concentration on college preparatory
programs in high schools, the goal should be to meet every student's needs. That
goal should translate itself into just one objective--excellence--whether the
individual involved is destined to become a doctor of medicine or a plumber.
This new skill center, I feel sure, is dedicated to excellence. It will
turn out highly skilled and efficient workers of all descriptions. It will fill
the needs of people. It will fill the needs of Kent County students. I
congratulate every one of you. here on this splendid achievement, and I am most
proud that your Federal Government is contributing $2 million toward the overall
cost of the two skill centers planned for our fine city and its progressive
neighbors.
# # #