Statement by Commissioner of Education Earl James McGrath

STATEMENT * l. that was done with respect to business education in the recent reduction-in-force? In the recent reduction in lorce, the functions of the Business Education Branch of the Division of Vocational were transferred to the immediate Office of the Assistant Commissioner for Jocational Education. The Business Education Branch was establisned in 1936 with responsibility l'or the administration OI the distributive occupations education puases of the Federal Vocational Education Program together with responsibility for research and advisory services in the general business education field under the provisions of the Smitn-Hugnes Act and the basic charter of the office of Education. The House Appropriations Committee report on the Office's appropriation for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1952, recommended curtailment of supervision of vocational education "since this work will be reduced with the elimination of distributive education." In the light of the Committeels recommendation, it was decided to abolish the position of Chief of the Business Education Branch and to transfer the three remaining professional positions to the Office of the Assistant Commissioner for Vocational Education. This action in no way indicates a decrease in interest and concera for this important field of education within the Office of Education. *By Earl James McGrath, U. S. Commissioner of Federal Security Agency, Washington, D. C., concerning Business Education Service to the press, April 1952.