Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-01-30
PAGE EDUCATIONAL BILL
An Important National Measure
Commanding Attention.
Vermont senator Explains in Detail
what His Measure Proposes to DO
for Young People--A Credit
to Vermont.

Senator Carroll 8. Page, vermont's
Junior member OF the upper House OF Con-
gress, at the request of the New York In
dependent wrote an article on the voca-
tional education bill which he has
introduced In Congress. The follow
ing is the article which appeared in the In
dependent:
(Mr. Page Is United States senator from
Vermont, and a member of the Senate
committee on agriculture and also the
committee OF education. AS the result of
long and earnest research he has recently
this land-to wit, 1888 per cent.-never
pass beyond the elementary grades In
addition to this IT Is estimated. by those
entitled to speak authoritatively on the
subject that only 25 to so per cent of this
1898 per cent. ever complete the eighth, or
highest, grade OF the elementary school.
But this Is not all. The training given
| to those who enjoy only the elementary
grades Is almost exclusively on what Is
known as cultural lines, and. with very
rare exceptions, 1t is not pretended that,
| even in a remote degree, the curriculum
of our elementary schools equips the boy
| with practical education-an education
which fits him to go out into the world
and earn n livelihood
| The friends of the Page vocational edu-
cation bil-Senate bill No. 3-while con-
Tossing satisfaction with the curriculum,
so far as those connected with the high
| schools and the colleges are concerned,
insist that to 90 per cent-to speak ac-
curately, tn, 92.93 per cent.-who never
enter the high schools or colleges we are
not extending the square deal, and that 1t
is only by affording to this SO per cent. the
opportunity to acquire an education along
vocational lines that we can perform our
plain duty to these children.
Passing for the moment from a state
ment OF conditions and needs. let us see
what the Page bill contemplates.
!. 1t proposes to appropriate 5000. 900
from the federal treasury for the purpose
OF encouraging instruction in agriculture,
the trades and industries, and home"
economies, Sin clearly defined depart
ments, or divisions, of high schools of
secondary school grade" Translated into
plain terms it means an appropriation for
he benefit Of vocational training in
schools in rural communities-towns and
villages having say, from 1000 to 1000
population.
. II approprates 100000 toward the
support of institutions In which only the
trades and Industries and home economics
shall be taught This appropriation Is
designed to stimulate and encourage the
esta blishment of separate schools In the
larger cities where will be taught those
industries which the mass of boys in the
larger cities must have to adequately
equip them for earning livelihood at the
trade or vocation for which THAR neculia y
talents seem best to ft them, and where
girls may be taught home economics
3, The bill appropriates 100000, in
rouho NUMBERS Tor the establishment OF
system of high schools where the bet
ter educated OF the farmers boys in rural
communities may receive training which
VIII mt them for agricultural life. 1t is
not proposed to make this the equal OF
the agricultural colleges, OF course. bu,
1t Is to be peculiarly the college of the
FARMER boy where he shall receive that
, instruction and encouragement which II
Is hoped and believed Will prompt him to
return to tho farm and pursue agriculture
as lie work rather than. as is now the
case the desertion Of the farm life for
the city.
4 The bill appropriates 100000 for tn,
purpose OF taxing the accumulated results
OF research at the State agricultural col
leges ana carrying them to the adult farm
en- so that ne. as well as his sons, may
come TO understand the better and NOR
advanced methods which must be adopted
II farm lie Is TO De made popular an'
proHtanIe'
o. Inc Dill appropriates 100000 to en-
courage demonstrations and experimental
, work to be carried on under the super
, vision OF state agricultural colleges at tn
diStrlct agricultural schools established
by the rage bill.
H. The Dill appropriates, in round mum
ners' N,5oo'Uo annually for the prepare
: ton OF teachers to carry on the educa
: tlonal work contemplated by the bill.
the appropriation of the $1,000, 900 for tn
: education of teachers Is to be immediate
~ available
Inc remaining appropriations OF tho bil
are not 10 take erect until the fiscal yea
g enulns June 81. 1915 because or our un
t preparedness by reason of lack Of com
IL would be very interesting to state II
Z DETAIL the administrative features of tn
v Dill out OF course this Is not practicabl
n Witnn inc limits or this article. suffice
. 10 say that the autonomy of the State
is tully protected. The federal govern
, ment says, IN substance, to the respectiv
states: You need not accept any of tn
do so; but II you do $50 far as the most o
1 Nl,s,,. -4,al