Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1910-10-12

to the support of three normal schools
in different parts Of the state, and ha
been doing so for more than 80 years.
FEom 1870 down to 1903 every COM
mittee appointed to report upon the
matter, so far IS [ have been able to
learn, has unanimously found that the
present system has proven inadequate
to the states need.
''In 1870, only three years after the
tablishment of the first school, the
the board of education, composed of
Rev. William A. Robinson, D. D.,
Prof. George Weber made compre-
hensive report, from which quote as
follows:
" 1T became obvious to the board
that the present system, while accom-
piishing all that could be reasonably
expected of it. was proving entirely
Inadequate to the wants Of the state
and as permanent system was un-
worthy of any state that aimed to
make liberal provision toward public
education.
-" In fact it seems to have been taken
for granted from the outset that the
present plan was to be only an enter
ing wedge and that some thing larger
and better was of course to follow.
''Ihirty-siX years subsequent to this
report the legislature Of 1906 appoint
ed a committee, consisting OF Il on.
Frank L. Green, Supt. Clarence. L.
Dempsey. Bert j.. Stafford, Hon. L.
Ethelbert SherWin and Willis N. Cady
to investigate and report upon the
present condition Of our state normal
schools. To their report | would re-
Ff1l 0a J,~s-
conclusion was:
The present normal schools do not
adequately meet the educational needs
Of the times.
NtOllOwing this the legislature of
1903 passed an act providing for
commission to investigate and prepare
plans for a central normal school. The
commission for some reason was not
appointed but the act shows the con-
clu5iOn of the legislature.
cit is apparent that tha state needs
something more than the present nor
nal schools can give.
The appropriations have doubled
in the last ten years and now amount
to $50, 600 year, yet the number of
graduates for the decade has not ap-
preciably increased and in TWO schools
has in fact decreased.
In considering the question Of in
creasing our normal school facilities.
1 it should also be borne in mind that
the plant and buildings OF the present
normal schools are owned and con-
trolled entirely by self-perpetuating
/ boards Of trustees in two instances,
and by the principal Of the school in
the other. The state has 10 ownership
! in or control over them. This is PROB
ably one thing that has held back their
proper development. for common bust
ness sense forbids the state to make
any large Investment to improve prop
erty which it does not own and con
troll absolutely.
Il recommend that this legislature
appropriate a suitable sum for the es-
tablishment OF a centrally located
state normal school to be entirely I'M
der the control and ownership of the
state. and that a state board be ap-
pointed with power to locate and es-
tablish the same. For this board we
should be content with only the best
qualified men in our state in educa-
ti0nal matters, who will make their
decisions entirely unmoved by parti-
zan6hlp or local prejudices and with
an eye solely to the good Of the whole
state.
THE question Is not, as it has often
been made to appear, the aboli6hment
Of present normal schools, but the
increase of normal facilities. 1t seems
to be the consensus of opinion that
the state ought to be doing more than
it is, and that the first step is the
establishment q strong state nor
NAL school. Inc present normal
CT . - 2
can prove their efficiency and fill a
place in our educational system, as |
hope they can.
''The school at Randolph, by reason
of the lack Of pupils near by, is the
least able to do good normal work and
mas the least prospect Of Improvement
On the other hand. it is admirably sit
uated for an agricultural high school.
and, If the state could obtain owner
ship of the property, | should favor the
establishment there of a complete
ly equipped frst-class agricultural
school.
L leave these matters to your care
full consideration and simply ask that
the subject be approached with an
open and unprecedented mind and treat
ed in broad and patriotic manner.
Being careful to do no injustice, let
US see that nothing prevents US from
giving our children the very best
advantages that can be had.
CONSTITUTIONAL An ENDMENTS.
Some few weeks since, in accepting
the. high honor which the last republi.
can convention conferred upon me,
referred briefly TO the proposed con-
stitutional amendments, and. at that
time. fully concurred with the sugges
4. tlons submitted by the committee APP
pointed to consider this important sub
ject.
Il would also recommend an amend
ment that would SO govern our election
Of town representatives and county
senators that. at each session of our
Legislature, at least one-third or one.
half of their number shall have hac
legislative experience. [ know Of ne
amendment that would more efficient
~ hasten the work of the general as
sembly.
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