The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-12-04
sups. Stones Meetings

Being one OF the men of Vermont,
who have responded to the invitation
OF State Superintendent Stone to
speak at his New Vermont meet.
ings held in different sections OF the
state, the editor has felt IL hardly
good taste TO speak in their defence.
lie has felt that the people who have
heard the speakers of these different
meetings were the best judges OF
whether they were serving a useful
purpose or not But some OF the
papers are making statements that
Indicate they do not understand the
nature of Supt Stones work and are
trying TO circulate their erroneous
Ideas among the public to the detri-
ment OF Mr. Stones work
The Enosburg Standard says.
These meetings are OF decided i'm,
portance to the educational interests
of Vermont and should be conduct.
ed by men whose time and energy Is
devoted POSSIBLY q highly educated
mans GRAMMAR to educational mat.
tiers. II such talent is not available
within the state. men of this class
from outside should be called In.
These educational meetings should
be OF as high an order as the meet
ings OF the state boards of agricul-
ture and OF health and the talent en-
ployed should be OF as high grade
as regards matters educational as Is
that in matters relating to agrlcul-
ture and the public health.
Far removed from this standard
have been the educational meetings
carried on throughout the state dur
ing certain periods of the year. con-
Quoted as they have been largely by
men who have embraced the chance
of extending their acquaintance and
increasing their political influence
and who could not be classed as edu.
Gators in the slightest degree or con
sidered as possessing talent that
would aid the educational cause
which such meetings should help to
promote.
Who are the men thus indictedg r.
Il. Howe the speaker OF the house OF
representatives, w c. Belknap, edi
tor of the Bellows Falls Times, f. l..
Greene. editor OF the st. Adams
Messenger. w. H. Crockett, editor OF
the Montpelier Journal and w, j.
Bigelow, editor OF The Caledonian.
With the exception OF Speaker Howe,
who has refused to speak at this sea
sons meetings because he feared his
appearance at this time might be at
tributed to political motives, we fail
to recognize any dangerous political
possibilities in the list given above.
Some others have been called to fill
vacancies but they have not been on
regular list utilized by Supt. Stone.
Now what have these men stood
for and advocated at these meetings
The education OF the boys and girls
for the life they are best fitted to
lead whether 1t be professional OF
agricultural or in business; that Yer
monts educational system should not
lead to the college alone but II should
aid and develop the great majority
| Of school children who will never
enjoy the advantages of college train
ing; that the child should not be
taught from the book alone but from
| the actual conditions in which he
lives; that he should be taught tC
acquire and express ideas and not
merely words: that he should be cd
ucated towards Vermont and moi
away from IT, that Vermont has q
complete educational syestem at last
that the most serious problem IN
Vermont today is the problem OF IL
decadent and isolated communities
deserted by It's strongest young mel
and women who have been educated
to the city rather than 10 the coun
try; how the educational system o.
the state can be applied TO the devel
opment of its backward communities
| that Vermonters should have high
err appreciation of the boy and girl
| who can do things, and not confin'
its appreciation to those who are
adept at learning things; the neces
slty OF all the forces for good ant
progress uniting in the effort Z
arouse new growth in the isolate'
sections; the productivity OF the sol
OF Vermont as compared with othe
states; the opportunities for success
in ones own community; the need o
closer interest by the parent II
the teaching OF his child, the oppor
tunItles for Improvement that fac
the average citizen and the awaken
ing OF spirit OF faith In and loyalt,
to the best interests of Vermont be
cause II deserves II and will rewar'
intelligent and persistent work alonI
those lines.
That is as concise statement o
the doctrines advocated by Sup
Stone and his assistants as we ar
able to give. II is respectfully sub
mitted TO the Standard for suggee
tons as to where II is below stan
dard or dangerous to the educationa
interests OF the state.-St Johnsbur.
Caledonian.
"I can tell you one thing said Taw
kins, with emphasis when ! MARI,
II won't be any higher education girl
a