The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-10-21
Educational Affairs.

1t is regrettable, it is deplorable, that
the public schools should be hiennially
the subject of irrational strife. In one
form or another, public education, for
fifteen years, has furnished the legisla-
ture with material for contests that
have been violent and bitter, unseemly
and unreasonable. In this contention
the common schools have suffered.
The benefits anticipated from progress
sive legislation and increased appro-
priations for school purposes have been
lessened by this lack of harmony in the
legislature in matters upon which there
should be perfect accord. The fight
has been intense over systems, over the
Normal Schools, and, since 1888, over
the election of state superintendent
of education.
In respect of this officer, whose
duties are more important than those of
any other executive or administrative
official, from the governor down, the
wholesome rule that prevails, espe-
cialy where peace in tenure and con-
tinuity of service is essential to eff
cheney, has been very generally ignored,
and the legislature has INDUCED in
biennial game of battledore and
shuttlecock. Hon. E. F. Palmer, first
elected in 1888, had to fight for his re-
election in 1890, and in 1892 he was
batted out, after contest that was not
free from scandalous incidents. Plans
for the betterment of the public school
system and for conserving and
strengthening the material resources
of public education, were broken off,
and the practical experience acquired
by four years of administration was
lost to the state.
Out of the imbroglio of 1892 came the
election of Mason S. Stone, who had
been put forward by his friends, and
whose canvass was free from reason
able criticism. Mr.. Stones administra-
ton, during the term for which he was
elected, was characterized by earnest
enthusiasm. With good judgment and
systematic effort, he took up and pur-
sued the task the legislature had en-
trusted to his hands.
The office of state superintendent of
| education in Vermont has its peculiar
responsibilities and peculiar difficulties.
The public mind seems to be partic-
ularly sensitive on the subjects of
school administration and school eX-
penditures. The Office is no sinecure,
and the faithful discharge of its duties
is no gala-day performance. No ten
ant of the office who faithfully and
conscientiously undertakes, and eff
GENTLY and resolutely pursues, the task
of supervising the public educational
affairs of Vermont, who discharges
fully, in their letter and spirit, the du-
ties the law lays upon him and which
he swears he will faithfully perform,
will escape criticism and condemna-
ton. If the criticism were always just
if it came always from sincere and
unselfsh regard for the public welfare
if condemnation were guided by intel
ligence and tempered by charity, it
would be welcome and the cause of
popular education would be advanced.
Before his first election, Mr.. Stone
had large and qualifying experience
in school supervision in Massachusetts;
and before this, his first important field
service, he had gained, in the district
and higher schools of Vermont, practi-
cal experience in the art of teaching in
the very schools over which his super.
vision was to be exercised. He has
now had four years of valuable expe-
rience in the office of state superinten-
dent. His plans have been formed and
his labors directed with a wise refer
ence to the future prosperity of the
schools He is in the midst of the exc
cution of those plans and the perform
ance of the incidental labors. The
best good of the schools and the gen.
eral cause of public education will be
advanced by his reelection. The
fruits Of four years of judicious plant.
ing and cultivating will be ripened and
the harvest will begin. The prospect
of Mr.. stones reelection without OPP
position is very gratifying. Harmony
in the choice of the occupant of this
important office will increase the eff
cheney of his labors. So let us have
peace, harmony and cooperation, and
the battle for good schools is won.