Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-09-17

The Randolph Normal hes the bsst and
most modern plant and equipment Of the
three schools. The old buiiding, burned
some hftssn ysazs ago, vas replaced By .
large and well-constructsd sdincs, built
from the insurance money and contribu-
lions Of citizens and friends. II II in
nearly every way we'll fitted for it, work.
II mot up-to-dats in all respects, II 10 -
nearly 20 % any building erected fifteen
years ago could b. 8, far - that goes,
ideas of school building construction ere
constantly changing, and 1t 10 impossible
for any town or state to meet them. The
newest building IL bound to be the most
modern, either private or public. The
Randolph Normal also has the use Of .
training school building constructed new
BY the town at cost of over e10, 900 only
i've years ago. Surely that Is not out-oi-
date and anfiqusted. For the use Of these
fine buildings, the state pays not one
cent, either for rent, repairs or mainte-
nance. They are furnished absolutely
free. Under terms Of the original gift Of
the Normal property, It cannot be sold TO
the state, bat it could be leased in perpet-
uam, and the trustees have heretofore pro-
posed this, but the state'has not acceded,
finding the present arrangement more
quire the property in this way, and to en-
large or improve it to its liking, 1t can
do 90, on the sole condition that it shall
maintain 1t Is normal school. There Ia
no other place where il could secure so
much desirable property free OF cost.
To provide an adequate training school,
with large number Of pupils on which
embryo teachers may practise, 10 not .
congenial task for any town. 1t has been
. costly and not altogether satisfactory
experience for Randolph. But the end
has been gained, and on the whole the ar
rangement works with . fair degree OF
success at present, from the towns stand
point. The next town that essays it will
have great deal Of trouble to overcome.
There are at Randolph Center enough Of
hotels and boarding houses and private
homes for double the number of students
now attending. The residents OF the
Center make point OF catering to these
students, and they are well received and
cared for there; no trouble ct all on that
score. The cost OF board, too, is more
reasonable than il would be in Q larger
place.
to exist in the central or eastern part OF
the state, it would be hard to find q more
accessible place than Randolph. True,
the present normal is a few miles of the
railroad line, but by no means so far re-
moved as to be inaccessible. The Center
is quiet spot, where study can be pur-
sued without distractions, and where the
environment is most favorable.
1t is a matter OF some doubt whether
the present-day conditions will warrant
quite SO costly and elaborate a system OF
normal schools in Vermont IS the com
mission outlines. The normals occupy q
ueiu tudt 10 coHstnhtiy pStus haftS"to-
on the one hand by the high schools,
with their rapid growth in efficiency and
patronage; on the other by the female col
ieges, to which many of the more prof
cient scholars go for training that no nor
NAL can hope to rival. As long as bigt
school graduates can qualify as teacher
| in our public echools Of the elemeutar,
grades, and as long rs there is the presen
tendency to take none but college gradu
. ates as high school principals or assist
ants, it is hard to place normal graduates
anywh here so that their special training
earns its full reward. As grade teacher
in the high schools or academies, Their
is still some special call for them, but
elsew here their certificate fails to wiz
them standing. 1t is doubtful II all tn
material and other improvement, proposes
in this report would affect these condi
tions sufficiently to justify the great out
lay involved. A wiser policy would be Il
give the present schools what they reall.
need in the way of support, and by careful
supervision make them more efficient.
. Ladies' hair work. Mrs. II. II. Bean
, Maynard, Mass.
Big Creamery Burned.