The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-12-27

tempting into college many youths who ought to find their
life training elsewhere result alike harmful the student
and to the college
The existing relation of the state to these colleges ought
to cease AS elsewhere fully pointed out it demorazng
alike the political interests Of the state to the institutions
themselves and to education In saying all of this criticism
is aimed responsible the policy Of the three
colleges They inherited situaton they did not make it.
called to the presidency of college first of all pledged
support the development of his institution is not for
him decide the question whether the state should give money
Ito higher educaton that question for the lawmakers
There gain to be had asking at whose door to be
laid the responsibility for the condition that exists plainly
noerab and the plain duty of the legislature to end it.
The question not what has been going the last thirty
years. but what ought to be the policy the state of Vermont
toward education the future? Our profound conviction is
that the state ought first of all to face its duty toward that
fundamental education which involves the interests of all @
should appropriate money whatsoever to higher
education until its duty toward the public schools has been
fully met In judgment the of higher education in
Vermont would suffer if received state aid in the
future
There only consistent policies that state pur
sue toward institutions of higher education 1t give its
support entirely the elementary and secondary school work
and leave higher education to be supported by public phan
thropy This is the situation in most of the New England
states 1t is cearcut is consistent it defensibe both
the ground of public policy and of education The other
attitude is that assumed by the states of the central West of
the far West and of the South namely that higher education
is likewise function of the state and entitled state sup
port but that the state will appropriate money inst-
ton that does not and control This policy also clear
and deensbe both educatonay and the ground of
wise public policy
For Vermont the adoption of this second policy is
bered with evident dcultes Vermont possibly sup
port university that seeks to the ordinary field
of undergraduate and professional instruction Il is bur-
den for states like California Illinois, Minnesota Wisconsin
appropriate 100000 $5000O00 annually their
state universities The entire annual income of the state of
Vermont is but little than the which each of these
states gives annually to its university The most that the state
of Vermont could possibly do if selected of these sub
sdized institutions to become its state university would be
to help out the derived from the friends of educa
ton and of the institution itself for the development of certain
restricted fields of education which deemed especially
important the state Under such circumstances however,
it fairly certain that state aid would check and eventually
dry up the springs of private giving and prove in the end
embarrassment rather than help higher education.
Before any such policy be adopted such appropa
ton made the question must be answered. Has Vermont
money to spend at this time higher education in view of
its obligations and its needs in the fundamental elementary
education of the body of children? In view Of this press
ing need it afford to subsdize rival schools of engi