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The History of the GI Bill. By Brittany L. Hammond. What is the GI Bill?. Basic History of the First GI Bill. Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 Signed into law on June 22, 1944 First bill dedicated to helping veterans upon their return from war
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The History of the GI Bill By Brittany L. Hammond
Basic History of the First GI Bill • Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 • Signed into law on June 22, 1944 • First bill dedicated to helping veterans upon their return from war • Criteria: honorable discharge; 90 days of service • Educational Benefits: up to 48 months of tuition, fees, books, and monthly stipends
The American Legion MagazineJanuary and February 1969 • Members of the American Legion were at the forefront of the effort to enact the GI Bill • Took 7 months to pass through Congress • The “GI Bill of Rights” focused on opportunity • “Educational opportunity” was just one component • Other benefits included: • Vocational/on-the-job training • Unemployment compensation • Loans for homes, farms, and small businesses Link: http://www.legion.org/education/history
Historical PerspectivesJennifer Jolly - October 2013 • The educational component of the GI Bill proved highly beneficial • 16 million served between 1940-1945 – approximately half pursued higher education or vocational training • A strong white middle class developed – more Americans shifted to higher tax brackets • Black WWII veterans were not as fortunate • Unable to use the benefits of higher education as a result of poor educational backgrounds • Historically Black College Universities (HBCUs) did not have adequate space • Approximately 20,000 black veterans were unable to enroll
NBC Learn – Higher EdNBC News – March 29, 1992 • Brief Video
Follow-on GI Bills • Korean War • Vietnam War (first time benefits were offered to peacetime veterans) • Montgomery GI Bill (requires service member contributions) • Post-9/11 GI Bill (benefits may be transferred to dependents)
Should we keep the GI Bill? Who does the GI Bill benefit? Is the GI Bill “welfare”?
Resources Jolly, J. L. (2013). Historical perspectives: The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944. Gifted Child Today, 36(4), 266-268. doi: 10.1177/1076217513497578 Pitkin, R. B. (1969, January). How the first GI Bill was written. The American Legion Magazine, 24-28, 51-53. Williams, M. A. (1992, March 3). The GI Bill. NBC News. Video retrieved from https://highered-nbclearn- com.proxy.lib.odu.edu/portal/site/HigherEd Questions?