38 + REPORT OF THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

staff was increased from two to four, with a fifth one assigned exclu-
sively to the seventh graders. Supervision of guidance counselors by
the Coordinator of Guidance did much to improve the guidance serv-
ice at the high school. In addition to the Coordinator, a consultant
from the mainland conducted a series of in-service training sessions
over a 4 months period.
 (e) Administrative Staff.-The Director of Secondary Education
devoted considerable time to assisting principals and assistant princi-
pals in doing a more effective job. For the first time, the adminis-
trative staff from all of the high schools met as a group several times
during the year to study common problems, share experiences, and
plan future activities. To get all administrative personnel familiar
with the accreditation processes, all principals were sent to the main-
land to participate in the evaluation of high schools for accreditation
under the Middle States Association jurisdiction. In addition to par-
ticipation in the evaluative process, the principals also observed ad-
ministrative practices in mainland high schools under Middle States
Association Secondary Schools and Colleges jurisdiction.
 (f) Physical Facilities.-Some progress was made towards bring-
ing the physical facilities of all three high schools to meet minimum
accreditation requirements. The high schools in St. Croix were
painted during the year and general repairs were begun in all three
high schools. Funds to add special facilities such as gymnasium,
music suite, art -and vocational education, as well as additional
classrooms for general use, were appropriated during the year.
 (4) Vocational Education.--Except for a course or two in the adult
program and the practical nursing program, vocational education is
primarily -a secondary school function. The school year 1962 showed
definite improvement in the area. To expand the program to include
out of school training activities, the Vocational Education Division
was given a separate divisional status in the department with a Dep-
uty Commissioner as its head. Plans were underway to participate
in the manpower training and retraining program under the Federal
Manpower Training Act.
 Vocational education has been generally recognized as an impor-
tant area of activity in the schools. For the most part, graduates
of the program were integrated into community work force without
any difficulty. A newly organized on-the-job training program for
students in the third year of vocational training would improve the
record even more. Twenty-one students were given on-the-job train-
ing experience in various industries and governmental activities.
 The Practical Nursing program for adults graduated its second
class in St. Thomas with 6 students and the first class in St. Croix with
10 graduates. The first in-school class of practical nurses started at