St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-08-16


much. poorer in railroad accommo-
datdons than they are. Its popula-
tioif is about one-half that of Bos-
ton. atone-its valuation one-seyenth.
THIS the sparsity of population
keeps schools small and makes wages
toys svflile relatively small resources
1 but ''increase the difficulty. Low
:. teachers salaries account for con-
9StaRt drainage of superior teachers
Ito Weather states; in turn the edu-
: cationaI standards for teachers GER
tificates must be lowered, as the
number of places to be filed hardly
/ decreases. Hence it comes about
that professional training cannot be
required of all who teach. Teachers
who desire to do their work we'll or
to progress into the larger positions
in or out of the state find it worth
while; but their number is relative
Iy small. The normal schools, as a
result, have been too SHINY attend
ed A logical remedy suggests it
self and usually appeals strongly at
first thought-consolida Main
tain one strong normal school,
which by it's very prestige shall at
tract more students than the exist
ing. Consideration has convinced
most people that this plan is not
feasible. It would be if the students
served could afford to gather in one
central school; but those upon whom
the state now reIies could not be so
gathered. The cost would be too
great for them personally or for the
state unitedIy.
Then is given a brief historical
sketch of the legislative changes and
the changes made by the state board
of education are summarized as fol-
lows:
The four-year Lower) course
will be abolished as soon as posi-
BILE; the Higher, or two-year, course
and Teachers Course will be es-
tablished. To accomplish this, none
will be admitted to the Lower
Course this fall except those who can
enter it upon advanced standing;
the minimum requirement for this
will be two years spent in an ap-
proved high school, or an equivalent
training. Students so admitted, to-
gether with all who have partially
completed the course, may expect to
be graduated by June, 1913, when
the course will cease to exist. After
this fall none will be admitted to
it. It's diploma carries fve-year
teachers certificate, renewable for,
another five years. To the Higher
Course, Just as before. none will be
admitted but graduates of high
schools or academies, from four
year courses; they will receive a
ten-year certificate, renewable for
life. The Teachers Course of one
year will be open to all holders OF
first-grade teachers certificates and
will be rewarded with diploma and
flve-year certificate. Special
courses, pursued by special students
as they may be found fitted to enter
existing classes, will not be recog-
nized by any diplomas.
The two-years' course will re-
ceive slight but important modifca-
tions. Careful attention has been
given to courses Of study in normal
notifications will be in line with
their experience. Everything pos
sible is being done to make these
schools the recognized equals of
similar schools N other states; al
ready several such (including New
Hampshire, Rhode Island, and New
York;, among those which have de-
partments authorized 10 do so, have
officially declared their readiness to
accept our graduates on equality
with their own.
While the problem of Vermont is
a serious one Principal Allen does
not consider it hopeless. He says:
Vermont does not suffer from the
lethargy of dissatisfaction and
complacency: but state officials,
schoolmen, and general public are
questioning and seeking appropriate
solutions for the perplexities. The
appropriate solution may not be just
like that of any other state, just as
our situation and conditions dupli-
cate those of no other. But in find
ing and applying remedy the nor
NAL schools may be relied upon to
give of their best IN building up
better Vermont. They look to the
towns to recognize with larger sal
aries their graduates of higher
worth; this may make it possible to
attract larger numbers to the work
and raise the standard of the teach
ers certificates. When this can be
done and the state can insist that
no teachers shall be employed who
have not been specially trained for
the work the Improvement of our
education will be on a firm basis and
Vermont's outlook equal to the best.
Every progressive Vermonter is
in sympathy with the. effort to get
better trained and better paid school
teachers Principal Allen has spok-
en- from actual experience and he
can feel assured of cooperation in
the development of Vermont's edu-
cational interests.
The list of possible candidates for