In February 1979, I wrote to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation seeking sup port for the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies to embark on a policy oriented program in vocational education. The reason for the request, which was generously granted by the foundation, was stated as follows: The federal program on vocational education dates from World War I. Impor tant changes were made in later legislation in 1963 and 1976, affecting the pro grams conducted by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The recently enacted Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) of the Department of...

Peter B. Doeringer Many of our approaches to education and training date back to the nine teenth and early twentieth centuries. Since that time, the skills and abilities demanded by the economy have undergone far greater change than have our training arrangements. Moreover, our ambitions for what can be ac complished through education and training policy have also increased. Not only do we expect that such policies should meet the skill needs of the na tion, but also we ask that they playa role in equalizing economic oppor tunity and in promoting greater well-being among workers. In...

In February 1979, I wrote to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation seeking sup port for the Aspen Institute for Humanistic Studies to embark on a policy oriented program in vocational education. The reason for the request, which was generously granted by the foundation, was stated as follows: The federal program on vocational education dates from World War I. Impor tant changes were made in later legislation in 1963 and 1976, affecting the pro grams conducted by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The recently enacted Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) of the Department of...