Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-11-12
THE NORMAI.-INDUSTR SCHOOL,

THE NORMAI-INDUsTRIA SCHOOL.
A measure which is pending before
the States lawmakers and which has
marked interest fer tho people of YER
mont, especially all supporters Of the
cause OF education, is that providing
for a normal in dustrial school. When
which Vermont Industries are depend
ent on Industrial training and the lack
OF It In many directions the wonder is
that our people have progressed az
they have.
Tho purposes of a normal industrial
school are 20 correct the present un-
schools. to check the exodus from our
state by instruction. in tho elements
OF agriculture and revealing the agri-
cultural opportunities IN Vermont; 70
develop a willingness to work, re-
gard for labor, and to train the virtues
Of accuracy industry and self-reli-
| e.,
| and prosperous people, to afford the
great majority who are 10 work with
| their hands opportunities equal 70
| those who prepare for college and en-
ter the professions. This. II must be
| admitted. is laudable series Of pur-
| poses, and the effect Of such a measure
must be a great gain for Vermont as
| a whole.
The scope Of such a school has been
| outlined ms follows: The industrial de-
| partments aim would be to prepare
| a body of teachers for high and gram
mar schools who can practicable the
| sciences and subjects taught: to ut
| special teachers for agriculture man
ual arts and domestic science, to af-
ford instruction 20 those who desire
an agricultural or industrial course;
to afford special courses In winter for
farmers; to AFFORD u place for agri-
cultural conferences.
The normal department would seek
TO prepare teachers for the rural
schools; to practicalize the work Of
tho elementary schools; to afford those
who are to teach an acquaintance with
the essent tails Of the subjects, to re-
late the teaching to the homo and the
farm.
The aim Of the institution In genera
would be to develop Vermont's agri
cultural interest and to increase hel
population and prosperity; 10 increase
yermont's body Of trained teachers
as her per cent. is the lowest in New
England and her standard for admis
sion and graduation from norma
schools are the lowest: to supplement
, the work OF the present normals: T.
! vitalize all school work; to put cap
. stone to our present system.
I'll 1t is worthy OF note in this connec
}. ton that tho last feature to be intro
{ duced into our public school syster
9 Is Industrial education and that Yer
:. mont Is the only State north of Maso
/. and Dixon's line that has made n
a provision for such instruction. TIL
!. provisions for such instruction Will b
tho climax to the whole educationa
system, will focalze the work OF III
- schools and provide an educationf
plant worthy Of tho State. while &c
10 day our penal institutions and insan
asylum are our chief public institr
tions from a material view point.
Other considerations to be take
into account In this connection al
that tho cost and maintenance OF II
institution will come out Of tho PRE-
goods Of the corporation tax and Their
30 fore will not cost the farmer one cen
~ that the measure Is positively and def
80 nitely Intended for the development
." the Industrial and agricultural r
n sources of vermont: that a bill Is no
~ pending in Congress with probabi
ch ity Of passing to aid States In 4
maintenance Of an institution confer
al plated; and that II the bill in Congrc
y PASSES, we have not an institution tn
OF can make itself available OF the pr
on visions of that law.
I'm State Superintendent Mason s. sto
n has devoted q large amount OF tn
on and investigation to this subject a
OF he 10 satisfied that an institution II
m that outlined will be Of immeasurat
20 value to Vermont, and In view OF
ID success which he has won with
in limited means placed at his dispos
In the people OF Vermont ought TO email
oil him to supplement the grand work
ere has already accomplished by add
the him to carry out this undertaken
,ed particularly as II will be but anotf
of way of helping themselves.