The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-10-30
Mr.. SanderSOn's Address.

The following is the part of Mr. Sander
sons address that is justly eliciting so much
criticism: " We see this new law, too, be-
ginning its existence under the worst pos
sible conditions for success. We see the
man who it is true nine years ago accepted
the Office of state superintendent without
any special qualifications for the position,
but who by years of untiring industry and
earnest devotion to his work had made
himself largely master of the situation-we
see this man, at this critical hour, sue
ceeded by another whose qualifications for
the position are not at least pre-eminent
knowledge of the science of education, nor
a large experience with the educational
needs of the state-talented and able he
NAV be and doubt not he is efficient he
may become in the future if he is willing to
devote his days and nights to the study of
principles and problems that are not won't
to yield their solutions to much less than
master minds; hut to-day in this transitory
period when if ever, it seems to me, there
is need of sound wisdom and large eXperi-
ence, he can hardly claim to be commander
in-chief of the educational forces of this
state in much more than the name His
lieutenants, too, the supervisors, earnest
energetic and enthusiastic though they may
be, still they are largely drawn from the
ranks of men who have not as yet taken a
high place among the educators of the state.
So that practically we are experimenting
with new law under the direction of men
with whom all educational matters are as
yet largely matters of experiment. Our
great body of teachers, too, are still COM
PEELED to submit TO examinations that do
not test anything but their patience and
powers of endurance. Far be il from me
to allow myself TO join in the ridicule which
part of the press of this state have tried to
cast on the lists of questions used in the
examinations held the past summer. 1t is
true that they violated every pedagogical
principle involved in an examination, but
yet | think they compare very favorably
with the lists made up by the farmers and
doctors and ministers, who under the old
law were accustomed TO meet once year
to determine upon what puZzling conun-
drums they should ask the schoolmarms to
answer before they, in the might of their
ignorance, gave them permission TO teach
Our teachers are compelled to pass eN-
aminations that do not examine. | wish
the examinations might be so difficult that
not single incompetent could pass them
but an examination to be what it calls
itself, must test the qualifications of the
one who takes it. For example, | think il
is true, and think il is generally coming
to be admitted as true, that in corps of
teachers, the position most difficult to fill
and the one most necessary to be well
filled is the position of teacher of the lower
grades in the primary school. No man can
visit such a school without being forced to
admit that special training and special
ntneSs are required OF the teacher. III is
training and a fitness, too, that specially
units her for passing such an examination
as she is at present obliged to submit to.
II she answers correctly every question
that is asked her, she still has not answered
single question regarding her ability to do
her work. Have our primary schools so far
outgrown the wisdom of the wise, that there
is no one qualified to examine the teachers?
Another thing must mention is the ques-
ton of textbooks. Our multitudinous state
board of education has been discussing, and
is still engaged in arguing, with no little
earnestness, though | suppose with perfect
good feeling, the merits and the dement's of
state uniformity in textbooks. do not
wish nor intend here to touch upon the
discussions of this subject which my friend,
Supervisor Booth, will open at the proper
time. wish simply to state what every
teacher knows-that all the uniformity that
any given school cares for is that all the
pupils in given class may be provided
with textbooks that are alike"