The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-23
EDUCATION IN VERMONT
Supt. Stones Report Shows the Pro
gress Since 1906.

In his report just issued Superin-
tendent of Education Mason S. Stone
draws these conclusions:
I'm 1906 a great momentum was
given educational progress in Yer
mont. The array of achievements by
the last three General Assemblies is
worthy of any State and surpassed
by few. 1t included in 1906 strong
school attendance law, creation OF
permanent school fund of $1,12O,21S.-
20, establishment of supervision sys-
tens, classification and standardized
ton of high schools, academies and
State aid for transportation.
"In 1903 a uniform certifcation
and central recording system, State
and for manual arts, display of flag
required In 1910, raising of COM
pulsory school age, provision for
education of deaf and dumb in Aus
tine Institute, provision for medical
inspection of schools. provision for
pensioning of teachers by towns,
change of the beginning of school
years from April to July l, creation
of State school for agriculture and
establishment of teacher training
courses.
b Probably the State is more res
ponsive to educational progress today
than it has been in half a century.
Probably no State has so readily and
extensively accepted the professional
supervision system as Vermont. The
amount of State aid has doubled in
six years and is more than 100000.
liz nf urn
men teachers in elementary schools
has increased to $3776. Vermont and
Kansas tie for first place in the
union average daily attendance. Yer
mont has made as great a per cent.
gain in eliminating illiteracy as any
State north of Mason and Dixons
line and has the smallest per cent Of
illiteracy of any New England State
The system today has all the features
of an ideal system-it simply needs
adjusting and strengthening"
Mr.. Stone writes that THE school
system of any State should be con-
structed and operated on the prin.
ciple of equal advantages to all so
far as possible" and to minify the
present inequalities of opportunities
recommends to the Legislature.
/. That State funds be so appor-
toned by law that more nearly equal
advantages be afforded; that aid be
furnished towns according to their
efforts to aid themselves; that the
burden of taxation for the main
tenance of schools be more evenly
distributed and that a premium be
put upon the employment of trained
teachers.
2. That the small schools which
are improbable to the children shall
gradually be eliminated; that suitable
transportation be encouraged and
State aid be extended to heavily tax
ed towns toward the purchase Sof
special vehicles therefor.
8. That the supply of trained
teachers be increased by permitting
any high school or academy that
wishes to maintain a teacher train
ing course so to do. provided COM
petent specialist is employed and
suitable conditions provided.
The foregoing few and inexpensive
changes and features viii remove the
graver weaknesses of the school sys-
TEN, will reduce inequalities of sup
port and character of the schools and
will contribute greatly to efficiency.
A table indicates the results of ex-
aminations for teachers certificates
for the biennium ending June 30.
1912; July, 1910, number of appli-
cants, 632, certificates issued. 465:
per cent receiving certificates. "A:
August. 1910. 1874 applicants, 1876
certificates, SO per cent; November,
1910, 219 applicants, $50 certificates,
81 per cent; March, 1911, 47O appli-
cants, 400 certificates, Sc per cent;
August, 1911, SOS applicants; 474 GER
tificates, So per cent; November. 1911
222 applicants, 1873 certificates. 60
per cent and February, 1912, 527 APP
plicants, 362 certificates, SO per cent.
Without examination, life, 90; col
lege graduate, 146; second college
| graduates, 20; second first grade on
examination, 80; Vermont normal
school graduate, so; normal gradu-
ates other States, 50: second first
grade normal graduate, 1853; pri-
mary and kindergarten experience,
| IS; special first grade for special
subjects. %; special second grade
for special subjects, ID; special third
grade, 227; training class, 13S.