Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1896-10-08
The system Defended.

E. A. ShhN IN bIa9Iotu Opihloh.l
The commission for investigating
normal schools reports in favor o
abolishing the present system, and a.
they provide no substitute we infel
that they mean, support no norma
schools. They say that we have now
no adequate system for training teach
ers and they recommend none. This
is destruction, not construction. This
wholesale slaughter must logically in.
clude the summer schools and teach
ers' institute, also aided by the state,
as inadequate.
They say abolish. Then what? They
are silent. Does their interest then
cease Would men who have the best
interests of education at heart fail to
recommend something better? They
say the normal schools are no more
entitled to state aid than other acade-
mics and good central schools. We
affirm that they are. They have fur
nished school property free of expense
to the state, they are not supported by
local taxation, they offer no free tut
tons to particular sections and are
public to all parts of the state. The
graduates who receive aid are bound
by agreement TO teach two wears in
the state after graduation. Statistics
show that from the Randolph school
over 81 per cent of graduates during
the last twelve years averaged to teach
five years each after graduation.
supervisor Goodhue of Orange
county in his report of 1890 says:Ran-
dolph evidently leads in the character
and efficiency of her schools. The
teachers OF Randolph have been for
many years largely normal graduates.
This shows that the normal schools
are doing work not reported by the
the commission.
The normal schools oiiera distinctly
professional course of study for teach
ers, thus giving better fit FOR teach
ing than is provided by non-profes.
sional schools.
The report further states that nor
mai graduates receive no more nav
on the average than graduates of other
schools. Allowing that to be true is
thst then the test of a good teacher?
In the town of Newbury the teacher
who has thirty pupils works for the
same number of dollars as one who
mas less than ten.and we suppose New
bury Is not an exceptional town. We
Know OF one town in which the schools
have been practically open to the low
est bidder.
II Vermont had skilled supervision
and wages were adjusted according 10
merit this might be considered count
against the normal school system.
The state has no control of their
methods Is another indictment OF this
commission. If this is what stands in
me way of success il is easily reme-
died. TO abolish the entire system
because of this would be like annihilat-
ing patient because the pill does not
mt his case. III, however. the reader
will consult Chapter "a, Vermont Stat
utes, 1894, he will not find such a de-
plorable lack of state control as is i'm
piled by the report.
Let the state be given com plete con
troi of the normal school if that will
DE any better. Increase the efficiency
oil the three normal schools we now
have. Keep up the summer schools
and institutes. Give us all these in
their best forms, consistent with econ
omy, and let us not be under the nee.
esslty OF resorting to a permit system
to secure teachers for our schools Let
ermont continue TO progress as she
has during the past few years.
ThinI-. IT,.