Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-09
yern,opt's Educational Progress.

Inc people or vermont are under a debt
Of more than ordinary obligation in the
case Of a public servant to Mr.. Walter e.
Ranger, State superintendent of education.
for the wide range and comprehensive
character of the information and sugges-
lions which he has embodied In the report
Just submitted to the General Assembly
of Vermont 1t is not uncommon for men
in Superintendent Rangers position and
similar places to feel 1t incumbent upon
themselves to praise everything in their
department and to gloss over every re-
pellent feature. There is no hint of this
tendency in Superintendent Rangers re-
port. On the contrary one feels after
mont's educational interests that he has
been as free to apply the surgeons knife
where necessary as he has been to dis
pense words of deserved praise.
Superintendent Ranger notes the fact
that some accepting our best schools as
typical, pronounce them the equal Of any
in America while others by magnifying
the defects of our poorest schools, form
the opinion that our school system is in an
almost hopeless condition. but he thinks
as a whole the schools of Vermont do not
differ greatly from the schools of other
States. He says the weakness of our
schools has been greatly exaggerated.
While, being largely rural, they have not
escaped the unfortunate tendency to be-
little rural conditions, he finds the general
situation encouraging. He finds that
l
mont arc taught in excellent schools, one
fourth in fairly good schools and less than
one fourth attend inferior schools. Speak
| ing in general terms it must be admitted
that this showing is encouraging.
Other gratifying signs of our educational
times are discovered by the superinten-
dent. He finds that there is a strong and
healthful interest in education that our
teachers are alive to educational needs
and opportunities; that educational meet
ings were never more largely attended
| that there was never more zeal truer
thought higher sentiment or wiser effort
manifested in our institutions Of learning.
He is encouraged by the elements of a
strong public school system that obtains
| in Vermont the chief of which are State
school funds. State taxes. State re-
quirements for local taxation. a required
school year of twenty-eight weeks, re-
uuired registers and returns to the State
department. of education; compulsory
school attendance; State system of exam
inaton and certfcaton of teachers; Statd
support and control of normal schools,
teachers Institutes, summer schools, ed
vocational meetings, and study of secon-
Diary schools state provision for local ad-
ministration of schools: State require
ments concerning text books and supplies
registration OF teachers and reports to
county examiners the functions of county
examiners. linking the local systems to the
State system; and the general supervision
of the State superintendent of education.
The superintendent sees among the es-
sentials a striking lack in the absence of
provision for adequate local superinten-
dence: and those who have devoted
thought and study to our educational sys-
TEN and its conditions must be impressed
10y the force of this arraignment of our
common school system.
Superintendent Ranger holds that for the
financial support granted our colleges by
the State, Vermont receives double re-
turn in the higher education of her youth
and in the increased efficiency OF her
schools; and he regards them as vital
part of Sur educational system. He finds
Mt these various institutions evidences OF
gratifying growth and the development OF
influences that make for greater educa-
tioual usefulness in Vermont.
1t may rot be generally known that
Vermont is accredited with the honor Of
the first Misunderstanding school in Amer
lea but Superintendent Ranger notes that
as carly as 1893 DR.. Samuel r. Hall opened
a private teachers school in Concord. and
admitted a class of pupils to serve, in ill.,
struction and government. the purpose OF
a model and practice school The superin-
tendent speaks in this connection of the
work done by our academies and senin-
aries. Academies are slowly but surely
giving way to high schools and under the
latter head. some striking facts are given.
1t appears from the report that during
the past twenty years the number of pu-
pills in the high schools of Vermont have
more than doubled. In effect all the large
towns and many small ones maintain high
schools. or provide equivalent school in
other institutions 1t is estimated that
one-h half to three-fourths of our youth re
side in towns that provide free secondary
schooling. The State makes free secon-
dairy education compulsory in the large
towns and makes it permissible and en-
couragcs it in the small towns.
Superintendent Rangers gravest con-
Germ is over the common schools in sparse
~ populated regions. While many tow
DEAL EA IN NAA ENT