Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-07
vERMoNT's RANK IN ILIIrnnAcy.


The schools are about to open for the
work of the formal school year. Now ana
then, somebody reminds himself and the
rest of us that Vermont's place in the
scale of illteracy as applied to all the
States Is not fattering. to say the least.
Whenever scheme of school improve
ment Is presented for the Legislature TO
consider, Vermonts rank in iliiteracy
gets pushed into notice and whenever II
democratic orator mounts platform. lie
Is morally sure in the course OF his re-
marks to arralcn Vermont republicans
for the States low standing in this re-
cpect.
Yet public education is dear to the heart
of every citizen. Appropriations for the
support Of public schools are fairly lib
eral and teachers, as rule, are as efli-
Client as the funds at disposal of school
boards can procure.
In census statistics, lliteracy means
inability to read and write Ordinarily
the knowledge Is acquired by the child
when comparatively young-anywhere be-
tween the ages Of five and eight years
While the l0-year-old child or one OF IL
or Il years Is not too old to learn to read
and write--We are inclined to think per-
sons not strictly illiterate are saved from
being so before their 10th year.
This conclusion. II sound. leads TO an
! othcr--that school authorities should see
to it that all young children are in at
tendance upon the schools provided for
| them. To raise n States rank as regards
| illitcraCy does not require anything out
| of tho ordinary either In teaching service
/ or !napprOpria TONS but the regular at
/ tendance of Young pupils in highest pos
! Sible percentage Of the total above the
minimum age, is absolutely necessary 20
1 work the desired change.
Our adult iliterates are beyong reach.
| The best educational system in the world
! cannot deal with them. Local school au-
| thoritieS anywhere and everywhere can
reach all the young children and their
duty towards them and the good name Of
| the state is plain and obligatory. Yer
mont's annual increase in adult illiterates
by immigration cannot equal the num-
/ Der OF children annually arriving TO
| school age and If the latter are instruct
| ed as the law requires, illiteracy must
| decrease IN constant ratio.
| Vermonters are proud of the State 8
educational institutons--two universities
| ana COlleRe-tne many SeconudLy
schools known as academies or high
schools--the normal schools-the two new
agricultural schools, and so on. In the
line OF improving our public educational
system a vast deal has been accomplished
in the past 10 years-nore, indeed, thar
the average citizen is aware of until ht
has looked into the matter and made
comparisons, But, Notwithstanding, th'
States rank among other States In Hitter
acy is unplcasantly too low, perhap:
needlessly too low.
Educational provision for the few. how
ever elaborate. will not raise this low
rank. Nothing hut school attendance or
the part Of every young boy and girl o
suitable age and not mentally or physi
caily disqualified will raise It.
1t Is up TO the school authorities II
every town of Vermont 10 do a little bet
ter in this respect. this school year anol
TO open, than ever before,