The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-01-10
Everlastinely Right.

The st. Adams Messenger, in COM
menting upon the arguments adyanc-
ed by The Morrisville News and Citi-
zen relative to the establishing OF a
normal school in small town in
preference to a larger one, has, It
seems to The Standard, thoroughly
demolished the contention Of The
News and Citizen and those papers
In sympathy with its announced attl-
Jude on this subject We regret that
we have not the space TO print The
Messengers article entire but We
quote the following:
THE state should give the teach
ers OF It's future citizens the best
practical training and equipment for
their work, no matter what 1t costs,
generally speaking. II should provide
the best kind OF normal school
plant. For the mere sake of setting
the standard, If for no other reason,
the state should have a normal school
building and plant at least as good as
the school plant OF any city within its
borders. The condition and kind Of
school, in its physical aspect. is a
part OF the education Of the youth
that attend IL. They are given CORE.
spondlngly high or low ideals OF the
desirabllity and fitness of things in
/ this regard that they are to carry into
their own life work by the model
tia. the state itself sets before
them"
The Messenger Is eyerlastingly
right and the logic OF its contention
for a broad state policy Of normal
school education Is unanswerable.
The culture, progress, and prosperity
OF a nation Is indicated largely by
the character OF Its pubic buildings
and this applies with equal force to
the state and TO municipalities. Who
would contend for n moment that the
erection of the Edmunds high school
building IN Burlington has not from
an educational standpoint increased
mmeasurably the prestige OF Burling
ton as an educational center, and re-
hected In no uncertain manner the
high ideals Of that city along educa
tional lines, which could not have
been done had the city been content
with It's old high school building.
The situation in Vermont today In
regard to It's normal schools. as We
view Il. is n disgrace In saying this
We DO not cast reflection upon those
| towns where the normal school build
| .ngs are located, but upon the STATE
for so long tolerating and subscribing
| 10 such n narrow conception OF The
Importance of these educational instl
mtions. What Nermonter could taxi
a stranger to Johnson or Castletol
and show him our normal schoo
building without feeling humiliate'
and being compelled to apologize TO
the nlggardly and mistaken polio
which has 50 long obtained relatv
to their maintenance.
Vermont cities and towns hay
made great progress In improving th
character OF their school buildings
| also library buildings. and the stat
| nj the present time Is giving abrnt
ant aid to our universities and co
iere for increased facilities, and ye
the normal schools, which above a
others should be the crowning glor
of the state. remain unimproved,
relic of the past. This policy
wrong from beginning to end ana IN
| movement for change should be COZ
unued until Vermont takes her plac
with other progressive states TN g
tabishing normal schools that relief
the advanced sentiment OF the coul
try regarding educational policies.
The aggressive hostility displaye
bv Johnson and Castleton and co
iiruons towns IN their respecu'
counties against central nofm
school being established ought not
Govern the policy of the state,
heir attitude is influenced more
self interest than the good OF q