In-Service Training of Federal Employees

There has been an increasing realization on the part of administrative officials of the necessity for carefully selecting and systematically training administrative personnel in the public service, if the functions of government are to be performed efficiently. Undoubtedly, plans by which employees could acquire new skills and additional knowledge have been in operation since government began, but there is no record of a definitely organized training program in the civil service of the United States before the year 1679 when the Bureau of engraving and Printing established its apprentice school for the purpose of developing skilled engravers. In 1908, the National Bureau of Standards instituted a program of technical training for its staff. This program served as model in the organization of the Graduate School of the Department of Agriculture in 1920; and, since then, various other training activities have been established in the Federal service, some of them devised to meet temporary needs and never becoming permanent programs of the organizations.Because the rapid growth of governmental functions in number, scope, and technical character created an urgent need for more competent personnel, the field of in-service training has expanded tremendously since 1933. Government is becoming so specialized that no amount of pre-entry training will enable the public employee to fulfill his job without additional training in the organization, objectives, procedures, am work of the bureau to which he is assigned.It is the object of this study to present a comprehensive description of the in-service training programs of the Federal Government and to draw definite conclusions as to the legitimate objectives of Federal in-service training and to suggest principles of organization and improvements in techniques for its continued advancement.