St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-12-14
PRESS COMMENT.
vermont,s Normal Schools.
Johnson, VT. November %, 191'


ones! When? For how long visits?
2. Have you ever visited any of the
training schools in connection with any
Vermont normal schools, to know their
work? What ones? When? For how
long?
3. Have you ever observed the teach
ing of a graduate of Vermont normal
school? Where? When? For how long?
Have oucompared that work with that
of unframed teachers?
4. Where else do you get information
on these matters?
Sincerely yours,
Resident Commissioner, Johnson Nor
NAL School.
The editor of the News acknowledges
the receipt of the above letter. AS there
is nothing about it to indicate that it is
intended as a private communication,
but rather that it is a form sent to
other editors of the state, it is printed
and replied to below
The News does not know why it's ed
itor should be placed under examination
by the resident trustee of the Johnson
Normal school. The News has taken no
part in the controversy over the present
three State normal schools during the
past few weeks. Two years ago The
News favored the continuance of the
schools for the time being, at least. be-
cause it rather believed that the state
was bound morally, and possibly legal
ly, to take care of them for time. owing
to previous act of the legislature: and
further, because it did not believe that
the state was ready to take nip the pro-
ject of a single normal institution and
carry it to a successful completion.
1t is evident, however, that the present
normal schools are fighting for their lives
with the indication that in the end they
will lose. The friends of the institutions,
from the towns where they are located,
have been so active in defense in the pre-
sent legislature as to gain the rather un-
complimentary term of "the Normal
school lobby" Whether this designa-
not know.
Anyhow, the battle has gone against
them in part, for the Randolph normal
school is to be changed into State agri-
cultural school; and the people of that
section do not generally appear to feel so
certain that the cause of education is to
be retarded-since good sized state ap-
preparation is to be spent there for the
new school. If the transformation of the
other normal schools should result in
equal generosity from the state it is
quite possible that the residents of the
towns in which they are located would
consent to be comforted.
The News may answer the enquiries of
Mr.. Stearns by saying that its editor has
never visited any of the State normal
schools. The News knows of teachers
who are State normal graduates that
are doing exceedingly good work. It
does not know how much of their success
ho of4 70 n
ing. 1t also knows other teachers who
seem to be doing equally well that have
never attended either of the State normal
schools. The News, however, has no
doubt that special teachers course,
though not all it should be, contributes
towards success.
The contention of leading educators
that the present State normal schools
are not up to the standard of efficiency
seems to be the basis for the demand for
radical changes and perhaps complete
adjustment of these schools. The News
believes that those active in, and in close
touch with educational affairs are more
competent to judge of the matter than
would be any layman upon a visit to one
or all of these schools-or even a resident
commissioner possessed of commendable
patriotism for his home institutions.
Il Mortified News.
On our return to the office after several
awaiting us on the desk. The News has
answered the questions so well that we
have republished it's editorial and will
not give the matter further comment
The Interstate Commerce Commission.
It is understood in Washington that
Francis NJ. Cockrell of Missouri, whose
term as Interstate Commerce commits
sioner expires this month, will be reap
pointed by President Taft. He is a
democrat with 80 years creditable ser
vice in the United States senate, whom
Mr. Roosevelt made commissioner, think
ing it well for him to remain In public
life
No comment would be made on the
proposed continuation of Mr.. Cockrell
on the commission, if it were not for the
fact that the rumor is persistently circu-
lated in Washington that Charles A.
Prouty of this state and Franklin K.
Lane of California are to be transferred
from the Interstate Commerce commits
sion to the new court of commerce.
The result of progressive legislation in
both the Roosevelt and Taft administra-
lions have been to give the Interstate
Commerce commission more power to
regulate interstate traffic. The railroads
of the country are asking for the privilege
of increasing freight rates as a prere-
quisite to the maintenance of good ser
vice. And while the spectacular offer of
Louis d. Brandeis of Boston to teach the
roads how to save a million dollars a
day remains with no takers, it seems
that the commission has been seriously
contemplating favorable response to
the petition of the roads.
The predictions of the members of
the Interstate Commerce commission be-
come interesting in view of the situation
as detailed. Martin A. Knapp of New
York, chairman of the commission, lanes
S. Harlan of Illinois and ex-senator
Cockrell, have shown by their decisions
a disposition to favor the railroads so