The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-10-06
NOT KEEPING
SCHOOL PACE
Vermont Is Not Says State
Superintendent Stone
in HIS BIENNIAL MESSAGE
Says That One Of Greatest Needs is
Conpeten. Supervision Of Country
Makes His Recon-
mendations.
i'm HIS BIENNIAL MESSAGE

Tie biennial report Of the state super
intcndent Of education, Mason y. Stone,
which was made public today, depiores
the lack Of symmetrical development Of
the public schools Of the state. He
says that the school system Of Vermont
has failed To secure the results desired
and win continue to fail until repaired,
strengthened and rendered Efficient
In order to show wherein the school
system might be bettered, Snpt. Stone
outlines the essential features Of an
ideal educational system as follows:
!. Equality in support and advan-
tages.
Z. Efficiency IN administration and
supervision
3. An adequate and productive per-
manent school fund
4. An unrestriciive course Of study.
To secure the first of these for Yer
mont he recommends that the state tax
be raised from eight to ten per cent,
Or the revenue from the permanent
school fund should be applied and a
more iudicious and economical method
Of disbursement Of school moneys More
equable support and better system of
supervision would give equality in edu-
cationai advantages.
There is not eflisfent administration
and supervision in Vermont schools be-
cause local school boards, while intelli-
gent and capable. has not means Of
knowing suitable books and appliances,
OF ability to secure competent instruc-
tors. With the exception of nine cities
and towns, Barre, Bennington, BrattIe-
boro. Burlington, Montpelier, Rocking
ham, Rutland, st. Adams and 81. Johns
bury, theue is no local supervision of
professional superintendent Supefin-
tendent Stone recommends either county
or group supervisors
Vermont's permanent school fund Is
distressingly small because prior to 1904
no effort was made. Previously two
funds We're set aside, but through mis-
carriage Or legislative nearsightedness. =
they are not wholly available today.
Vermont must have a good permanent
school fund, declares Superintendent
Stone, to safeguard the schools against
times of financial stringency, local
caprices and legislative changes"
To give unrestricted educational adj
vantages. the stare must furnish the
opportunity in common school, high
school and college For the present the
free college training can be deferred.
Superintendent Stone puts in a good
word for industrial education in the
elementary and high schools and com
mends the study OF agriculture in the
county schools Just as manual training
is taken up in the city schools.
Concerning the district supervision,
Superintendent Stone says:
"A general adoption of a district SUI
pervisory system would neeessitate about
fifty superintendent in place Of the
two hundred fortv-six now employed.
II permissory law We're enacted, the
transition would probably occur slowly
as in other states In this respect it
would be high advantage. for the
reason that 1t would be difficulty to find
readily fifty qualified school men to put
the system into operation. A permits
sorry system may be general in its ap-
plicatiom throughout the state, OF II
nay lie restricted 20 the formation Of
one district in eneh county for the sake
Of exhibiting its merits
"The salary of district superinten-
dent should not be less than the salary
% 4 principal Of good high school Il
Will be necessary for him to keep a
horse. which is no small item in his
expense. The state should pay at least
half Of the salary and, if superin-
tendency system is established, the ag-
gregate expense to the state would be
Lctween 100000 and $4,000. But 1t
must be remembered thar in super
littrnJecy sytem the superintendent can
perform the duties OF examiner. In a
properly constructed system, the super
intcndent should be the certifcating
officer"
Educational Sentiment Growing.
In concluding bis report Supertinten-
dent Stone takes hopeful view, say
ing: