Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-09-24

have ben made ct each school, bat thy
are necessarily email, owing 70 lnek OF
time and Of special teachers. We urge
the legislsturs to appropriate reasonable
smount for the proper dsvelopmsnt OF
this work.
1.-THE demand for elementary agricul- |
turai instruction is, perhaps, more recent,
but not LEES insistent The movement
10 national In its proportions. 1t u bssed
upon the feeling that the schools can -
tablish more intelligent and sympsthetic
relations between the growing child ana
the community in which his life centers,
and upon the possibility Of considersble
number putting into profitable practice
the definite teaching Of the school. This,
too. IL established in the normal schools,
calls for time, teaching force and money.
ITO procure and retain the most
efficient teachers, the normal schools
must meet the demand for increased
salaries. This demand 10 . general one
A school cannot do its best work II its
teaching force IL continually drained OF
its strongest members. Certainly the
normal schools OF Vermont should be In
position to get and retain as skilful
and efficient teachers as similar schools
in other New England states. In this
connection the need of superior teachers
| for the grades of the training schools
should be emphasized. These schools
should not only be training schools;
they should he model training schools In
every sense OF the term. This necessity
also calls for increased expenditures
"This board wishes to express its con-
viction that the time has come for the
state to attempt a permanent solution OF
the normal school problem. For about
forty years, the state OF Vermont has en-
joyed the advantage OF the use OF the
properties where the schools are located,
as Q gn2tuity. The communities have
supported these schools well and loyalty
But il would seem to be In keeping with
the pride and dignity OF the state to fur
nish housing for its normal schools ut TO
be compared with the buildings which
municipalities furnish for their second
airy schools.
ave believe the state should make q
beginning by the erection, at the present
time OF q modern school plant for one OF
its normal schools. In this connection
we should remember the implied obligs-
ton OF the state to continue the present
| normal schools until 1920, that the
people of the communities where the
J schools are now located have given these
. schools their interest aud their care, and,
/ in years past, their financial support.
7. Through more than forty years The
schools have been building up their IN
! stitutional life, creating their traditions
l and establishing their worth in thes<
simple, unpretentious country villages
! Such locations may be considered idea
E In respect to the economy with which
: poor students may maintain themseive'
; and in freedom from the distractions anf
a temptations OF large places. The strong
: est arguments which can be brough
against the rural location Of a norma
school are those of insccessibility and
e inadequate training facilities.
!. "Our relations with the local authori
e ties have been generally harmonious
q At johnson. the school directors hav'
, seemed anxious to meet our wishes n
: every respect At Castleton, at the las
: annual town meeting, the town votes
, o., 500 for the purpose OF enlarging tn
= building occupied by the training schoo
= and providing il with steam heat, mod
y ern ventilation and approved sanitary ar
= engagements. The town of Randolph bull
q Q very acceptable schoolhouse some year
e ago at an expense Of some $1,000, but tn
n number of pupils there is inadequate 10
]. the purpose OF training school. At al
e these places, the school directors seem .
Il be desirious OF furnishing the best facili
C ties possible.
d "we respectfully renew the recon
> mendation we made two years ago Wit
y reference to the certihcation by the mol
n NAL school commissioners OF graduates q
}. high schools who have taken . pedagog
10 cal course of study in connection wit
r their high school course, according I
= Section 965 Of the Public Statutes OF Vel
,. mont. In view of the fact that but fe'
n OF the high schools and academies OF III
,e state. and those few for the most pal
d the smaller ones, are now acting undo
Dr. this provision, that many schools this
10 began giving these educational courss
- have abandoned them, that most schoo
D. have too few teachers to adequately d
,e their own work and this in addition, thu
10 ample facilities are otherwise provide
ID for the examination and Qualification (
ct teachers-for all these reasons we sgai
re recommend the repeal OF this statut'
It "In conclusion, We would respectful
III recommends
al "(ll. That the state erect q suifab
re normal school plant.
TO "(2l. That the sum of $40, 900 be a
r. lpropriated annually for the support I
in each school
be "(3). That the sum CT q, 900 annual
II be appropriated, the same to be place
- ct the disposal of the normal scho
ID board, to be used in its discretion whe
~ most needed, provided no other money
al available, and provided further that
es much of the said amount as is not e.
IS pended shall be turned back into the sta