The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-09-10
DON'T MEET
NEEDS OF STATE
VermOntNOrmal Schools Need
TO be Changed
REPORTS OF COMMISSION
Eventually State Controlled Institu-
ton Is Recommended; at Present
Added Appropriations to
Johnson and castleton.

schools OF Vermont has made its report,
and some considerable changes are rec.
commended The report, in full, is as
follows,
Acting under the authority conferred
in this joint resolution, your commits.
sion desires to report that it nas found
the present normal schools well conduct.
ed so far as conditions permit. The state
board OF normal school commissioners is
to be commended for the work it has
accomplished with the inadequate means
at its command.
Your commission IL, however, of the
unanimous opinion that the present nor.
NAL schools do not adequately meet the
educational needs Of the times and are
open to serious criticism as represents.
tive institutions OF the state.
lit desires to call your attention to
some OF the more prominent of these
defects.
list. Buildings. The buildings are
poorly adapted TO the modern require.
ments Of normal school education and
do not meet even the present demands
made upon them. The sanitary condi-
tions, the lighting OF elass-rooms, and
the general condition Of the plants leave
much TO be desired. This is largely due
to the fact that the state of Vermont
does not own the title 20 any OF the
property now occupied for normal school
purposes; has not satisfactory lease of
the buildings; pays no rent and has no
authority to make only slight repairs,
whereas extensive alterations are neces-
sary to meet the growing demands OF
modern education.
I'D. Financial Support. The appro-
priations for the normal schools are In
sufficient, and the lack OF available funds
has led to several unfavorable results:
"(a), The equipment Of the buildings
in supplies, apparatus, natural history
collections, manual training material,
etc, is. inadequate.
"(b.l The normal school commission
ers. forced to offer meager salaries. are
seriously embarrassed in securing and re-
tanning teachers Of thorough preparation
and rich experience, This results in a
large proportion OF instruction that is
unprofessional or experimental, and vir-
tually makes of our normal schools in
stitutions for the training of normal in
struetors who shortly leave for better
paid positions in other states.
"tc.l The enrichment OF the course OF
study by the elaboration Of present
studies, by the addition OF new courses,
or by increasing tho number OF the facul.
ty, IL practically impossible.
"td.l The attractions to prospective
students are limited, With the conse.
quenee that the number and the person.
mel OF the student body are unsatisfac.
tory. 1t is generally true Of the state
that capable graduates Of high schools
or academies who intend to teach do not
attend the state normal schools, either
eontenting themselves with q high school
education which by a large number Of
school officials is regarded as fully equal
to Vermont normal school training or,
il financially able to do 50, attending the
normal schools OF other states.
I'D. Status Of the Normal Schools.
The normal schools are in no sense the
pedagogical leaders Of tho state, and
play little Or no part IN shaping its edu
cational policies and standards. They
do net fairly represent the dignity On
the educational ideals Of Vermont, nor
can they. under existing conditions and
In their present locations, ever assume
their rightful place in these particulars.
18th. Training School Facilities. The
for atIofding normal school
students practical training in teaching
and school management are lamentably
poor and insufficient The number of
children in the model or practice schools |
should not be less than three times az
great as the enrolment Of normal school
students, and for really satisfactory
work should be even greater. The I'M
sufficient amount and the inferior kind |
oil practice are among the most serious |
defects in the present system.
18th. Standard OF Admission The |
standard OF admission, and consequently |
the grade OF work done by the students, |
Il too low. The requirements for en-
trance are appreciably lower than those
demanded by the state for entrance to
high schools under the free tuition law
Of 1906 In the opinion OF the com
mission, however, the standard Of admis
sion cannot be materially raised SO long
IS the normal schools remain in their
present general condition
18th. Possibilities OF Improvement
and Growth The outlook for the i'm,
and growth OF the normal
schools in their present locations is not
Under existing conditions of owner
ship. extensive repairs and needed altera.
Eiens are impossible. and without them
the work will continue to be badly han
iieapped. The untoward conditions are
and not merely external.
THE boarding facilities for students
are far from satisfactory at present,
many residents even now furnishing &C
for students at consider
able inconvenience It would be praeti.
ally impossible, especially at johnson +