Experience increases beginning salaries, and there is much chance for advancement in most of the technological fields. Growth of the technical fields There is need for more people to be informed on the opportunities in the technical and technological fields. Many educators are aware of the need for this type of program and much has been done in recent years. It's difficult to point to any specific thing and say, "This is what brought the change about." Probably World War II had much to do with it, when enormous numbers of skilled and semi-skilled workers were desperately needed. It was a matter, literally, of life and death, and training programs were initiated in industries, thanks to federal funds available as part of the war effort. Many of the skilled workers trained during the war time have reached retirement age, leaving openings that industry is having a hard time filling. Also, there are many technical positions now for machines or processes that did not even exist twenty or even ten years ago. Data processing is an example of astronomical growth; there are many others. Total enrollment at present in all post secondary full-time programs which prepare persons for technician occupations probably number not more than 60,000 students. This falls far short of meeting the present needs, even when supplemented by those enrolled in part-time pre-employment programs. Some can be provided through expansion of the existing plants and institutions. Much will need to come through new institutions. Continued Education Important Graduates of the High School technical training programs are meeting part of the need. One third of these graduates continue their education, and one-half were placed in jobs of technical types. Of the post-secondary graduates, 12% continued their schooling, and 70% were placed in technical jobs. Ten percent entered the armed services, where they usually received additional technical training. Graduates of the secondary programs entered industry at salaries some 9.5% lower than those from post 28 secondary programs. In addition to the School of Technology and Trade-Technical Education at Weber, there are the Trade Technical Institute schools in Provo and Salt Lake City. Many high schools in other areas are initiating vocation training programs. According to Dr. Esplin, Dean of the School of Technology and Trade-Technical Education, the trend in this direction is nationwide, not confined to our local area, but it is not meeting the need. Quick action is needed In the past we have been able quickly to mobilize for emergencies, but science and engineering have advanced too far, too quickly, for us to depend on doing this again. Some experts believe the optimum ratio is four technicians to every engineer. A conservative evaluation would call for at least two technicians working with the average engineer. We are now producing less than one-half a technician per engineer. The demand far exceeds the projected enrollment and graduate figures. The answer is not easily done up in a neat package all tied with pink ribbons, but there are some things that can be done right now, and must be done if we are to have the people who are needed in the vital technical field. One answer is to do whatever is necessary to upgrade the trade schools so they can do a comparable job with the college trade programs. Another is to do a public relations job, so skilled workers, well-trained, competent and desperately needed, can take their proper place in the world, respected and accepted, not "second-class citizens who went to trade school or technical training school because they couldn't make the grade in college." The Utah Trade Technical Institutes, at Salt Lake and Provo, have been renamed the Utah Technical Colleges. For one thing, the name change adds prestige. If barbers, beauticians, models, dancers, secretaries, and other necessary workers can get their education at so-called colleges, it seems only fair that students being trained in similar and even more technical vocations should have the same advantage. 29