The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-10-24
That Poorly Prepared Candidates
Are Given Teachers, Certificates
DECLARED PRES N,ss WRIGHT
AT oper ~ ssion of Vermont State
TeachersuAssociation in Rutland To-
day-Did Not Blame Teachers
But State for Conditions.


annual presidents address before the
Vermont State Teachers association
whose convention met here to-day, Pres
dent George S. Wright of st. Adams de-
clared that 'the standard for certfca-
tion of teachers in Vermont is extreme
! ~ low. so low as TO be a source of in
calculable waste to the state Prcsi-
dent Wright did not blame the teachers,
but the state, asserting that it is dis
grace to Vermont" that poorly prepared
candidates are given certificates.
The convention, the 63rd of the asso-
citation, is being held at the high school
building, where about 800 teachers were
assembled. There are twenty book men
here with exhtts. Rev. F. w. 0rvin of
Rutland conducted devotional exercises
after which Mayor Charles L. Howe well
coined the teachers, the response being
given by President Wright, who at the
same time gave his annual address,
In opening his address President
Wright considered the social development
of Vermont and then took mp the teach
er's part in that development, saying:
First, let it be considered that the
claim of the teacher for fair remunera.
tion for labor has no peculiar merit.
We are Joint laborers in highly com.
pex social organization, an organiza-
tion so sensitive that continued injustice
against any one class causes injury to
all. The fundamental problem for
teachers to consider is fairer distribu-
tion of wealth among all. We can aid
in the solving of the problem. In fact,
the part the teachers of the land must
play in its solution is large.
so long as the possession of riches
is the American ideal, so long will hu-
man cupidity make a fair distribution of
the nations wealth impossible. 1t is
our task to hold before our pupils new
ideals The latest watchword of the
schools is education for efficiency, in
dustrial efficiency. II there not danger
that this be accepted as efficiency in
individual money making? Not merely
to make money for ones self, but to add
to the wealth of society; not to possess
riches, but to use riches wisely; to take
pleasure not only in honestly acquiring,
but in honorably expending these are
some of the lessons which must be
taught and taught again until there is
developed in the coming generations a
new aim in life.
when by force of public opinion, the
of great wealth means in
every case responsibility for wise use
with its amount; when
the acquiring Of wealth by any form of
injustice or oppression or fraud brings
with it social stigma; when human hap
oiness and social service and the COM
non welfare are the aims of all man.
Sind, then we may expect to see the
md of social evils. including the pay
nent of wages too low for decent exist
nee. We may expect then such a divi-
ion of wealth that each laborer re-
Give compensation sufficient to enable
i'm to labor at his maximum efficiency,
o support his family, and to provide for
Id age.
We Are Making Progress.
'Ths Utopia seems far in the future
here are. however, many indications
hat we are making progress toward it,
he last decade has witnessed great
hanges in our national ideals. In bust
ess life. that which generation ag,
,as entirely honorable, as well as legal,
now under the ban; in industrial life
here is now an insistent demand thrt
he period of childhood be respected. that
he health of operatives be considered,
nd that the conditions under which wom-
n are employed be such as will not
nfit them for home making and mothe~-
ood the world peace movement is max
~ headwsy against the enormous waste
/ war; as Jane Adams has pointed
nt there is new public conscience
,garding the worst of social evils. Shall
e not say that progress is bei"g
ade?
"Are we as teachers not remiss if
G do not lend the full weight of car
huence toward these movements trass-
rming the present groupings of society
ward better things into potent action,
hen these ideas shall have been GU
'died in the character of the boys and
rls now under our care. This is the
acher's work in social development. to
L each succeeding generation of school
ildren into higher planes of social
ought, ideals. and service. Viewed in
is light, bur opportunities are ser nd
none. We of this generation shall
It see the realization of our ide is;
. may see society brought nearer q osc
aals: we fail in our highest duty il
, allow any selfish consideration to
tract from the effect of disintere ted
ort.
What. then, Of the teachers of the
rsent day, OF their remunerat M
" they hope for increased compea a
M Are they justified in asking fur
sher salaries and for pensionst Is
sre present financial reward suffici at
e questions should be answered. he
We. from the viewpoint of society at
e. not from that Of teachers -
-. II our argument il merely that
are getting too little and wisl for
re. that Other people are getting -ich
lie We are barely living, il we cen
Itrate attention on our special reds
opposed T. those Of other classes then
efforts - secure better remunei alton
higher salaries or pensions vii fail.
ought to fail Only BY provi- 20
iety that greater remuneration Tle1ns