Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-06
FEWER RURAL SCHOOLS
Assistant Secretary Hays Declares
They Should Be Consolidated.
Would Establish Civic Centcrs for
Trading at the SCHOOL Centcrs-
Last Gay Of Union Supcr!ntcn-
dents Conference.

The Hon. Willett NJ Hays OF Washing
ton, d. c.. assistant secretary of asricul-
ture of tho United States Friday at
the closing session of the fivc days con-
terence of the Vermont Union Superin-
tendenc' association, held at Queen City
iark pounded into the listening superin-
tendents the Importance OF consolidating
the rural schools. He said thal he be-
lieved in It thoroughly and that he want
ell other people to believe in it. Further
more, he declared that it would all come
about in time and that the union superin
tendents in Vermont could do more to
make 1t a possibility in Vermont than
any other class of people.
Friday was the last day of the COM
ference, the most successful one ever held
by the association. Superintendent C. II.
Drown of Wallingford was elected presi-
dent OF the association, Superintendent
Charles Adams of Castleton was elected
Vice president and Superintendent f.. A.
Hamilton of Newport was reelected sec
rotary and treasurer. The conference
during the five days was visited by 80 SUI
Terintendcnts, all that there are in the
State. The association was begun four
years ago with Is members and since that
time has gained steadily In both numbers
ana enthusiasm. About Y per cent. Of the
school children and about GO per cent. of
the schools In the State are now under
union superintendentS
Every person who has ever met Assist
rnt Secretary Hays declares that he is an
optimjst and is overlooking with enthusi-
asm. Mr.. Hays admits all that and more.
Things that advocated years ago have
gclra hop - ma cd
he said Friday evening. land nm a big
ger optinlst and have more enthusiasm
than ever"
'Great things are in store for Vermont,
he declared vigorously, land all these
great things are going to come soon. We
need and are going to get a new philosophy
OF life We are going to get a philosophy
OF the open country What you need here
In Vermont is organization. You have
possibilities that YOU are just beginning
to realize"
In the latter remark tho speaker re-
ferred to the summer tourist business
which, he said was as yet in It's infancy
The great trouble with country life al
present he continued. was it's isolation
all of which could be reinedied to a large
degree by consolidating the rural school.
anu DJ tSld pllhllluH tINiC 'tll'tlS ~
trading and meeting places at thes
school centers. He exhibited various
maps showing how such work had beer
omplished in certain districts ii
Minnesota, Indiana and Ohio, and de
clared that the same work could an
should be done In Vermont.
He threatened the superintendent whel
he declared, pointing his finger at them
that If they took courses at the Stat
agricultural college they would be abb
to hold their positions four years longer
He advised that the agricultural coleg
Of the University of Vermont be use
during the next year or so to prepar
teachers and not farm workers. In thi
way, he explained, the knowledge coul
be spread broadcast among the farmer
and their sons and daughters. and tn
zeal work Of improved farming he got a
more quickly.