The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-21
BENNINGTON, VT, Oct. 20, 1912
CHANGING SCHOOL LAWS


of school men in the state for a
change in the manner of control OF
the educational system of Vermont
through the creation of a state board
of education which shall appoint the
state superintendent of education and
have general management of the af-
fairs in relation to the public schools.
Inasmuch as Vermont has made
such splendid progress in education
al work during the past ten years and
is still making, and inasmnch as
the only hindrance to still more rapid
advance. is the lack of money rather
than a demand for new system, The
Banner is inclined to think the state
should be made unless there seem
this proposed experiment No change
should be made unless there seems
good and emphatic reasons therefor
The following letter from Superln-
tendeht A, w. Varney of Bennington,
one of the leading educators OF the
state. gives the views of a man VINO
has had ample experience, not only
under our system here in Vermont
but under the system which is now
proposed here;
Editor of the Banner:--I desire to
place before the public my OPINION
relative to the proposed legislation
making radical changes in the laws
governing the department OF educa-
tion not that am better informed IN
this matter than other school men,
hut because have not seen this size
of the question presented, and De-
lieve a large part of the superlhteh-
dents agree with my view.
have been in active public school
work for over twenty-five years, -FOUR
teen of which have been in Vermont
and. therefore, have some genera
knowledge of school conditions III my
opinion calls out others and brings
this question more fully before the
public and the Legislators the space
taken in The Banner will have been
wisely granted.
The proposal TO establish state
hoard of education and place In Its
control the destinies of Vermonts
school system has been made IN good
faith by those who hope thereby 10
improve the system.
If such a board were established
the tendency, judging from the eXper-
fence of other states, would be TO con-
stantly increase the power OF such
board. To be sure, the present pro
posal seems to give almost absolute
mower to the board and to make the
Superintendent of Education their
man" without security of position Tor
a day. a condition which no selire-
speeding educator of ability could en-
dure Such boards assume more and
more power, load down the schools
with red tape, iron clad courses or
study. and syllabi, rules and regula'
tions. and endless examinations. Inc
system destroys local individuality,
takes away all power to vary work
and experiment, makes every super
intendent a puppet in the hands OF a
state board, and every teacher the
faithful slave of the state syllabus
producing marks on state eXamlna'
lions instead of men and women.
Vermont is small, there is no de-
mand for much change, no necessity
for it. The present more elastic sys-
TEN is better adapted to the needs OF
the state. With a state superinten-
dent and fifty-five union district super
intendents, largely paid by the state
and nearly all college graduates deep
" interested in all school problems,
the rural schools have made wonder
full progress, as great progress as is
possible. The need is not state
board but a campaign through the
rural communities to produce higher
ideals and union superintendent are
nobly doing that work. Let the train
ing schools furnish them teachers
and wait a year or two before measur
ing results.
II a city can best govern itself free
from state interference, so in large
measure the village and city schools
will make greater progress without
too much state control. Under exist
ing laws and the present executives
Vermont enjoys a mild state supervis-
ion which aids the weak towns and
provides every child the opportunity
to obtain high school education, and
yet leaves the larger villages that To-
cal freedom best suited to obtain
real results in schools adapted to To-
cal conditions.
Vermont has too often changed her
school system. | hope her Legislators
may find it wise to avoid this radi
cal change with its increased expense
and devote themselves to working
out in greater perfection under the
present system laws providing for
better pay for the rural teacher, and
a larger high school tuition.
A. w. Varney.