THE MAJOR DILEMMA AND CHALLENGE FACING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION IS THE FACT THAT SOCIAL CHANGES LAG FAR BEHIND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES. BASIC ISSUES RELATING TO THIS DILEMMA INCLUDE--(1) DROPOUTS LEAVE SCHOOL BEFORE THEY ACQUIRE VOCATIONAL SKILLS, (2) ADOLESCENTS IN OUR CULTURE LACK A CLEARCUT WAY TO MOVE FROM CHILDHOOD TO A CONTRIBUTING ROLE AS AN ADULT IN SOCIETY, (3) RAPID CHANGE, INCREASING EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, AND GREATER NEEDS TEND TO ISOLATE PEOPLE FROM SOCIETY FOR ECONOMIC REASONS, WHILE GEOGRAPHICAL ISOLATION CAUSES MANY RURAL AREAS TO BE LEFT OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM OF TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, (4) THE RISING ASPIRATION RATE OFTEN EXCEEDS RESULTS AND RISING FRUSTRATION EXCEEDS BOTH, (5) THE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF ADULTS OFTEN HINDERS THEIR ADJUSTMENT TO CHANGES, (6) A LACK OF CLEAR CUT JURISDICTIONAL CONTROL OVER PROGRAMS CONFUSES THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM, AND (7) WHETHER TO EDUCATE FOR A JOB AND A SATISFYING ROLE IN SOCIETY OR TO REMEDY AND CORRECT MUST BE DECIDED. TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES, THE BELIEF THAT OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION IS THE REAL PREPARATION FOR LIFE MUST BE IMPLEMENTED BY PROVIDING THE BEST POSSIBLE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION FOR THE GREATEST POSSIBLE NUMBER OF PEOPLE. TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS INTRODUCED A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ACT OF 1963 TO SET UP PILOT PROGRAMS, COSTING AN ESTIMATED $30 MILLION ANNUALLY, TO FIND WAYS TO OVERCOME THE BASIC PROBLEMS. THE AMENDMENT HAS FOUR ASPECTS--AN EXPLORATORY OCCUPATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR ALL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, PROJECTS TO ASSIST THE STUDENT IN DEVELOPING TO HIS MAXIMUM THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PART-TIME WORK EXPERIENCE, A SERVICE IN SCHOOLS FOR PLACING STUDENTS IN ENTRY JOBS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW CURRICULA IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION TO SERVE THOSE NOW BEING IGNORED. WHETHER THIS AMENDMENT BECOMES LAW OR NOT, FEDERAL PERSONNEL ARE SAYING, "THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SCHOOLS FOR ITS STUDENTS CANNOT BE OVEREMPHASIZED. THE RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT JUST FOR INSTRUCTION. IT APPLIES TO THOSE WHO LEAVE AS WELL AS THOSE WHO REMAIN--TO THE DROPOUTS AS WELL AS TO THE STAYINS." THIS SPEECH WAS DELIVERED AT THE AMERICAN VOCATIONAL ASSOCIATION CONVENTION (CLEVELAND, OHIO, DECEMBER 6, 1967). (EM)