Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-10-04
STATE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
Some Radical Changes suggested by
Committee Of Nlne-Recommenda tions
VIII Be Submitted TO the Legislature.


VIII BE Submitted to the Legislature.
Recommendation for proposed changes
in the state department OF education
were made Saturday by the committee
of nine representative educators Of YER
mont appointed at Queen City Park
last summer, and these suggestions will
be introduced at the present session of
the general assembly for enactment in
to law.
At the time of the meeting of union
school superintendent, held a few weeks
ago, large number of the superin-
tendents, teachers and other educators
of the state held a meeting in response
to a general call that had been given
wide publicity. AS result of this
gathering, committee consisting of
President Benton OF the University of
Vermont, President Thomas Of Middle
bury college. President Spooner of Nor
witch university, Frank G. Partridge of
Proctor, representing business men, Prin-
cipal e. b. Smith Of the Brattleboro
high school, Superintendent A. w. Eddy
of Middlebury, Superintendent Ernest A.
Hamilton of Newport, Principal Merritt
ID. Chittenden of the Burlington high
school and Principal G. A. Adams of
the Castleton normal school was charged
with the task Of drawing up the rec
concentrations. The various opinions of
the educators present were given free
expression Of the meeting.
The committee of nine appointed a
subcommittee OF three, consisting Of
Principals Chittenden and Smith and Su-
perintendent Eddy. This committee met
in Burlington early in September, in
Rutland later in the month, and in Bur-
lington again Saturday morning. Satur-
day afternoon the full committee met
at the high school building in Burling-
| ton and received the report of the sub
| committee, which, with several changes,
was finally adopted. At o'clock the
| meeting was declared open, and the leg
islative committee of the Vermont
| Teachers association, the Vermont
| Schoomasters' club and the women
teachers club, together with the men,
! bers of the state board of education, ex-
| cept Governor Mead, were admitted. Su-
| perintendent George S. Wright, presi-
dent Of the State Teachers association,
was also present.
Definite announcement of the commit
| tees recommendations will be made
| public in a few days, but 1t is under
| stood that in a general way the reso-
| lutions include declarations in favor OF
the following proposals:
| That state board of education be es-
| tablished, consisting of seven members
appointed by the governor with the con-
| currence of the Senate, the members
| holding office six years
| That the board of education so consti-
| uted shall appoint the state superin-
tendent of education for a term Of three
| years and fix his salary. At present the
state superintendent is elected by the
general assembly.
That the board of education have full
| power to control the matter of certi-
| fication of teachers.
| That 1t inspect and report upon the
| expenditure of state funds appointed fol
the use of schools and colleges in the
| state.
That it control the state norma
schools, and have power to employ in
| spectors, clerks, lecturers and other Of
| ficers deemed necessary for the admin
| istration of the state school system.
| That it determine the courses Of
| study in the schools of the state, ant
| have power to determine the classih'
cation of high schools and academic!
and grant approval of the same.
That 1t may arrange for summer
schools, teachers Institutes, and edu
cational institutes in accordance will
| existing statutes.
That it shall make a biennial repor
to the general assembly with recommen
dations for the Improvement of educa
tional conditions in the state and
budget or estimate OF expenses FOR tn
succeeding biennial term.
That the members of the board o
educat ton shall serve without pay, ex
cept for actual expenses incurred.
That the legal school year shall con
sist of not less than $50 school days in
Guiding holidays and others allowed b.
law.
That existing statutes fixing the com
pulsory age of school attendance sha
be made consistent, Some of these rea
J Is years, others 16. 1t is proposed tina
the age be uniformly fixed at 16 years
In regard to high school tuition, it
, recommended that this may be collecte
from towns not maintaining hig
+ school, to the extent of $36 per yea
3 for each nonresident pupil. The amour
now permitted to be collected is 81
: 1t is further recommended:
That the local superintendent hav
power to dismiss from school pupil
whose personal habits or infirmities al
such as to make their presence undo
sirable and may give necessary assist
: ance to teachers in preserving orde
y and maintaining discipline.
That the board of education shall So
e that the statutes of the state and tt
regulations of the board regarding ed,
3 cation, courses of study, school attend
| ance, certifcation, equipment, ETC., al
enforced, and they are hereby author
lied to withhold all or any part Of II
public money from any town violating
: evading said requirements or statutes.
A resolution was also adopted in fl
:, vor of the formation of a fund for Il
u benefit of retired teachers, with pr
y vision for its increase at stated int
: walls, the state board Of education
!; have control of the distribution Of Il
- income from this fund.
The recommendations Of the commi
> tee of nine were adopted as an EXPIRE
II sion of its judgment as to changes tn
J, will tend to improve the education
~ system of the state. These suggestio
- will be brought to the attention of t
: committees on education of the Hou
o and Senate early in the present sessi
= of the general assembly