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The dawn of the 1960s found the American Vocational Association actively involved in both the national and the international arenas. A cultural agreement between Russia and the United States resulted in an exchange of visits between Russian and American vocational educators. At the request of the U.S. Department of State, the AVA sponsored a two-week tour of U.S. vocational schools in February 1960. In May of that same year, three American educators, including AVA past president H.H. London, visited vocational schools in Russia. They returned to report their concerns to the nation regarding the expanding vocational education plans of the Soviets in the economic phase of the Cold War.
In the domestic arena, AVA officers worked with the Senate Special Committee on Unemployment Problems on a report that recommended a considerable expansion of vocational education for both youth and adults. The final report recognized the AVA and included quotes from the AVA Bulletin.
A National Power
The largest peacetime vocational education appropriations funding up to that date was passed for fiscal year 1961, despite President Eisenhower's recommendation for a $2 million cut in funds. But there was soon to be a new administration in the White House, so the AVA wrote to both presidential candidates to obtain their views on vocational education.
The Democratic Party's candidate, John F. Kennedy, responded on August 17, 1960, with a letter stating that, "The continuation of federal funds for vocational education at the full amounts authorized by existing law is vital to the security and economic health of our nation." He reaffirmed his party's platform to, "further federal support for all phases of vocational education."
The Republican candidate, Richard Nixon, did not send his response until October 7, 1960, but he too expressed support for strengthening vocational education.
The American Vocational Association played a major role in the passage of the Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962, a three-- year program that authorized additional funds for the training of unemployed and underemployed workers. As a result of an argument fought and won by the AVA, this training would be handled by existing vocational education authorities at the federal, state and local levels.
The association helped establish President Kennedy's Panel of Consultants on Vocational Education and worked cooperatively with...