requiring glasses-and causing an immediate improvement in the girl's capabilities in the classroom. But many "complaints" undoubtedly develop because of the enrollee's homesickness and adjustment problems in the first month, as clearly documented by Dr. John Coakley, director of Omaha Job Corps Center in its first months of operation.

3. Remedial Education.-Even our high school graduates (15 of 62 enrolled, or 22%), most of them bright girls with good grades, have required remedial English, math and reading. According to figures quoted in fall, 1965, when the first 5 Women's Centers were at capacity, only 2 of the first 70 high school graduates enrolled read at 12th grade level. More than half read at 9th grade level or less.

This was not surprising to Richmond WICS, since our school data processing includes a request for SCAT scores in percentiles. School and College Ability Test scores from consecutive years indicate the individual student's growth. But percentile scores give an indication of the individual's achievement as compared to all others in that grade that year across the country. The high school graduates referred to the Job Corps by Richmond WICS screening center have had low percentile scores, most in the 0-35 range, many 0-25 (which would be the low quarter).

Studies of Southern rural schools have been made by the Center for Southern Education Studies at George Peabody College for Teachers (Nashville, Tenn.) and Emory University Division of Teacher Education (Atlanta, Ga.). These indicate that a high school diploma from a rural Southern school represents a level of academic and intellectual achievement short of the typical 10th grade student in the United States today. This is comparable to the low achievement scores of disadvantaged young people from large city slums, Indian reservations, etc.

The Emory study, quoted in Currents (Feb., 1966), states that we need "new practices aimed at compensating for the cultural handicaps brought by the children to the school-door."

Job Corps is an experiment in just such new practices. Its biggest contribution may be the development of new techniques to be incorporated in local schools so that local communities can meet the needs of disadvantaged children. We have been startled to learn that girls we have sent to Job Corps have raised their reading level from 7th grade to 11th grade in 10 weeks; from 4th grade to 9th grade in 6 weeks! Some of these girls had been classified as slow

learners by local schools.

4. Diet: New Ambitions and Energy.-Many of these young women had been considered lazy, unresponsive. Yet at Job Corps these same girls chose to add to their regular work-study schedule hours of 8:30-4:30 six days/week. Some chose to attend public night school for credit, paying fees themselves from their limited allowance. Others chose to take on-the-job training in another skill at night, such as PBX at the Center switchboard, or retailing in the Center canteen. Also many give volunteer service to the local community in cultural enrichment programs for deprived children, fund-raising such as for March of Dimes, tutorial programs to help disadvantaged youngsters.

Undoubtedly, some of this new spirit has come from the stimulation of of successful learning experiences. But much of it certainly must have come from the adequate diet available to them for the first time. Richmond WICS have worked with many girls in the weekly orientation program who are not accustomed to sitting down to a meal with the family. Their "pick-up" meals are such that meat is almost non-existent in their diet and salads unknown. Potato chips and cokes are standard fare. Bristol WICS have sent girls from southwest Virginia to the Job Corps who have never tasted roasts, steaks, chops or "store-botten" bread-who have never eaten with anyone outside the immediate family- who have never slept out of the same room from their mother, let alone away under another roof. Every WICS Screening Center has sent girls who have never slept alone in a bed, or between sheets.

5. Limited Experience.-Not only has the home experience been limited, as described above, but also any community experience. 40% of the applicants screened acceptable by Richmond WICS came from outside the Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (City of Richmond, Counties of Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover). Though some have lived within 30 miles or less of Richmond, very few had over been in the capital city before they came to Richmond to be

screened. Many of the girls within the SMSA had never been out of their own neighborhood. Most had never eaten in a commercial cafeteria or in a restaurant or even at a drive-in. They were unaccustomed to having a choice of foods and didn't even know how to make a choice.

These girls had never seen trained women at work-had no idea what kinds of jobs are available to women. Most had amazing misconceptions about "factory" work and wouldn't even consider such jobs if suggested by the Virginia Employment Commission for those over 18. They had no idea of what an employer expects of an employee-or what the employee can expect in return. Time clocks and the idea of being on time (for buses, meals, appointments) are foreign to them.

Rural girls are not accustomed to working with several adults in one day, as are the girls from urban schools with classes taught by specialists, rather than a single teacher. This is not surprising since the median grade completed by the first 80 acceptable candidates through the Richmond screening center was the 9th, with having 8th grade or less.

Most girls had no personal contract with adults of another race, nor with girls of another race. They are surprised to find that women and girls of the other race are not so strange after all, that they have the same interests, concerns, problems.

Corpswomen home on vacation and Job Corps graduates have been a great help to WICS in discussing Job Corps Center life with girls waiting assignment. They talk about the difficulties in living with a large number of girls-about the problems common to all girls in dormitories, whether Job Corps or college. They discuss the hard work involved. And they talk with pride of their own accomplishments and the success of others.

D. JOB CORPS COSTS VS. COSTS OF OTHER SERVICES

Less than 1% of the first 80 acceptable applicants screened by Richmond WICS were receiving public or private assistance, or lived in public housing projects. But many of these girls were receiving support from Aid to Dependent Children funds until they dropped out of school. In more than one case, the girl was the third generation of the family known to the Richmond Social Service Bureau.

In southwest Virginia the percentage on welfare roles is much higher, probably because of the lower level of employment there as compared to the Richmond area. A caseworker with the Dept. of Public Welfare of Bristol has pointed out that the cost of Job Corps training, to prepare a young woman to support herself, is small compared to the costs of providing Aid to Dependent Children for her two youngsters until they are 18, plus the costs for the woman herself when at 62 she goes on old age assistance rolls. Then eventually the children would also be on relief rolls. She was discussing one of her clients whom she

was referring to the Job Corps.

WICS screeners, locally and across the country, have found that the phrase "cycle of poverty" is truly a reality-that the disadvantaged young women follow the pattern of their mothers and their grandmothers. For many of these girls, the only chance they have for breaking this cycle is this opportunity for training away from home-far enough away from home that every whim of their mothers does not bring them home, or discourage them from continuing. Time and again a mother has called to say that she must have her 17 year-old home to take care of the younger children because of mama's "nerves". In some instances, the family has been referred to an agency, such as Family and Children's Service, for professional help in handling the problem. In other cases, the mother has simply needed someone to talk to. Some of these same mothers cannot see the need for keeping appointments for job interviews-or anything else on time, or on the given day.

While a few of our applicants come from sound families where the major problem is poverty, most have come from homes with deep sociological problems, many from homes where the parent(s) has been delinquent. WICS volunteers often wonder how these girls have managed to keep their hopes up that life can have something better in store for them. Richmond WICS has done no active recruiting since April, 1965. The girls are motivated to seek this opportunity themselves and have come in such numbers that the local screening center cannot handle any greater rate.

E. WICS-CAP

Since March 1, 1966, the Richmond WICS weekly program for applicants, Orientation to the World of Work-and the Job Corps, has been funded by a special WICS-CAP grant through the national office, while WICS developed a proposal for funding through R-CAP, Inc. This proposal will be submitted to the Project Review Committee this month.

F. BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

In recent weeks the papers have headlines unacceptable, delinquent behavior by Job Corps enrollees, both men and women. The one or two individuals who commit these acts of violence give the whole Job Corps Center a bad name. Since many of these delinquents have had previous records when there has been further investigation, the screening agencies have come under attack.

Virginia WICS experience with behavior record checks may give some insight into this whole problem. The checks have been handled differently in separate jurisdictions.

Last summer when Norfolk WICS screened only girls from the city of Norfolk, the girl was sent to the police station where she requested a copy of her record. This was given to her in a sealed envelope which she in turn handed to the WICS director of screening. Yet on Dec. 16th a Norfolk corpswoman slashed another girl with a razor. It was found that she had had a record of violence against a person. But because Virginia's excellent juvenile protection law prevents disclosure of any juvenile offenses which prevent enlistment in the Armed Forces, etc., these record checks were useless.

This has been resolved, we hope, after consultation with state juvenile probation officials, by writing the local Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and asking for the Chief Probation Officer's recommendations re any applicant known to the court. This does not ask for disclosure of record. We do not know how successful this is. A copy of the letter and regulations are enclosed.

In summary, then, Virginia WICS recognize that the Job Corps in an experimental program with many problems. But for the culturally deprived young woman who wants to help herself and is willing to make the adjustment to group living and the intensive work-study program, it has proved a wonderful opportunity. Its real success will be measured by what happens on their return to the community. Will they find jobs using their new skills even though they do not have the traditional high school diploma and one year's experience?

Geographic distribution, completed applications, June 7, 1966

PROFILE OF CENTRAL VIRGINIA JOB CORPS CANDIDATES-80 CANDIDATES SCREENED ACCEPTABLE

31% (25)

28% (22)

19% (15)

Had been an unwed mother

10% (08)

2% (02)

Received public or private assistance or lived in public housing
Moved frequently

Sharecroppers, migratory or seasonal farm workers, or recent migrant from rural to urban area

Lived in area currently designated for assistance under ARA.

Median grade completed in school: 9:

2. Had under 3

Had more than 10

6 lived in institutions

3 lived in foster homes

Sa in a Job Corps Centers (March 14, 1966); 11 returnees, sent 44. Of the 12 returnees (came home before their training was completed):

(6)

91% (1)
(10)

82 (10)
675e (8)

were 16 when they went to Job Corps (5 others stayed)
came from homes which were disruptive or deficient
came from homes where parents were largely unskilled
were school drop-outs

both parents had less than 8th grade education
60% (7) parents have serious physical or mental condition.
Grade completed in school (median: 8th):

2 under grade 8;

6 grade 8;

3 grade 9;

1 h. grad.

I returnee after 3 months requested reenrollment and has returned to the Center (now 17 years old)

2 married young men that they met while at Job Corps Center

2 married young men back home

I returned to her husband

are looking for work

2 lost contact

working (formerly unemployable)

NATIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE ASSEMBLY, INC.,
New York, N.Y., June 28, 1966.

Hon. JOSEPH S. CLARK,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR CLARK: In connection with the hearings currently going forward in the Senate on amendments to the Economic Opportunity Act I wish to convey to you the concern of this organization and its affiliates concerning certain provisions of the bill as reported by the House Committee on Education and Labor.

At a recent meeting of executives of national organizations affiliated with The Assembly grave concern was expressed regarding the impact of proposed reductions in the non-earmarked funds for community action programs. As you will note from the attached Position Statement on the original Economic Opportunity Act adopted on April 10, 1964, The Assembly is strongly committed to the support of this program. A major proportion of national organizations in the social welfare field, both nationally and through their local affiliates, have made heavy investments in time, effort, and their own funds in getting this program launched and in making their appropriate contribution to its work in their own communities. Most have been likewise preparing to expand their activities on the assumption that the indicated expansion of Federal financing would be forthcoming. If the extremely restricted provisions of the House bill are permitted to stand, the extent of community disruption and demoralization can scarcely be over-stated. At a recent meeting of our Committee on Social Issues and Policies concern was expressed not only on this basic problem implicit in the House bill but also on the proposed division of functions with respect to Title V (Community Work and Training Program) as between the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Labor Department. It was the Committee's view that this proposal presented serious administrative difficulties and was not based on a sufficient period of experience under present arrangements to permit any real evaluation of its effectiveness. I am also enclosing a marked copy of the Committee minutes which indicates its recommendation that no changes be made in this program without more careful evaluation of its effectiveness.

I would be glad to have this letter incorporated in the Subcommittee hearings as an expression of Assembly view.

Sincerely yours,

C. F. MCNEIL, Director.

PREPARED STATEMENT OF NATIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE ASSEMBLY, NEW YORK, N.Y.

PREFACE

The Assembly concurs in the purposes and principles of the Economic Opportunity Bill, H.R. 10443, as a measure to attack important aspects of poverty. In this concurrence we recognize that many other measures will ultimately be necessary because, in fact, poverty is a composite of many problems and requires many programs for its eventual solution. The following statement will include suggestions for strengthening the Bill in order that it may better achieve its purposes.

H.R. 10443, if enacted, has the potential for important and positive gains. These include: Federal leadership and stimulation in an attack on a problem which in conscience the American people can no longer ignore or sweep under the carpet; the fact that several of its provisions will reach groups which are especially vulnerable and in immediate need, particularly unemployed, unskilled, and untrained youth; encouragement of the concept of innovation, imagination and creative programming which will produce valuable experience in dealing with special problems of poverty; and the fact that wide attention will be focussed on poverty, its nature and causes.

THE PROBLEM

While concurring in the purposes of H.R. 10443, The Assembly believes that poverty is a major and complex problem. The poor in our country include persons with a wide variety of problems, affected by a wider ange of causes, living in many different parts of the country. A useful classification includes the following: