Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-11-10
YtRMONT'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Interesting Survey of the State
System of Education.
Superintendent ". a.. Ranger MAKES
Important ions in His
Annual Rcpori--i'ncts and
Figures

Following are the principal parts OF the
biennial report OF state Superintendent
" T.. Ranger:
Various opinions arc held regarding
tho standing Of Vermont schools. BY
magnifying the defects Ol our poorest
schools, one forms an opinion that our
school svstern is In AZ almost hopeless
condition. ny regerdins our best schools
another confidently Judges them ia he
equal to any in America. As 4 whole,
The schools " Vermont do not differ
greatly fron the schools OF other states.
While there arc a few nearly worthless
schools. while certain conditions in many
schools are rad. while everywhere there
IS urged need OF constant and Intelligent
effort for the Improvement Of schools.
vet 1t is doubtless true that the weak
uess Of orr schools has been greatly OK
aggerated Being largely rural they have
not escaped tho unfortunate tendency tn
helttle rural conditions and to fail in dn
appreciation of the true worthincss and
opportunities Of country lifc. Ihc ton
dency to educate all our youth toward
the life Of cities Is deplorod by many
thoughtful citizens Internationally, Ner-
inc to produce urban conditions IN RI
raj communities. The througing crowds
Of large cities and oven their manner 81
living are not necessarily the true ideal
for rural Vermont. She must solve her
own educational problems by making the
most OF what she has and making tn,
best Of what she must have. II is hoI
part To honor. conserve and vtalze her
ha hot 81
part of the republicans we'll rs to rroft
10y urban conditions. y scnso of social
and educational infcriority dcprcssos pub
lie confidence ana vcakcns hopeful edi-
cstonal effort. Existing conditions. while
promptins Vigilance and action. inspire
confidence in The high efficiency OF uui
public schools.
More than onc-half Of The pupils Of Yer.
mont are taught in excellent schools. anc
less than ono-fourth attend inferior
schools. rhis simple statement privilege,
hat exist in different towns and discloscs
the need of further effort toward az
equalization Of school advantages among
he children ana youth Of the STATE.
IN comparing the schools Of tins auc
other States ono TX likely to compar,
m. schools of our towns with III" larger
school systems OF wcalthior cor1muni-
rio. Doub.lcss s,ch misleading connari
ons have caused selrcps misconcoption.
,epsrdiuc echooi education i'm Vermont
n ,ov,rec and cftioe Of o,unl wealth aut
population be compared. It Will he found
hat the schools ut Vermont are unoX-
cellad in corrcsnoudins communities j,
tho eacollence Of building and equipment
iu the efficiency of teachers. in the ma
,i.c char,ctcr of n,,rus I'm unhlio SIM
nort and in o1uc,tion,I shirt Nor. tina,
nncs che has bocn :. pionoc,. in cduc.,
tior,l ,,o,o,7nnts She nas often Tod tl,
VA, in, ,-l,,catior,1 nrocrosS ,Tar pconI.
Lave c1.cr b,cn lovaI to nor .ducntionu
i,torcs,s and have boon rarorn,s IN tl,
sumner, NJ schools To.d,v few. state,
canal her in thc ttn,ouu, Of taxes raise,
yearly fo,. the surport of lor schools
.rl,o,trI, Snarso1, rrr,,lat.d and Iiuitc.
T., wealth tIrou,rh thn storli,.. lifo ~
b,~ noonle bor oducationaI achievement,
ravc wan tl,c rcsncct and commensurate,
of hor lister Statc~ No state can hoa.
Of more dcvot,G. a.ririnr- and nrnpr.s
s,ve teachers. Her vouth .oi,ll. tnrll
from home and school. reveal in thoi
lives tho Intrinsic u,.rit of ,boso ios,,,r
lions and evidence mo ulain truth th.
Tho Creon Maintain state uoxy ~ over
aourishce biph ,,aubnnd and votuurhoo,
I'm her -cbools and homes
'rh.,e ,4 4 strorr and hcal,hful ,ubli,
iotercat in ndu,atiou. our ,oachcrs ar
1.-Two 80 .ducational nocds and ounortu
nitie. Never vrr, educational luectinx.
1nors largely attnndod Never was NOR
xaai ,ruor ,houpht hia.h.r sentiment AN,
,riser effort manifested II c,,r institution
Of learning There are signs of progress