The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-01-10
vERMoNT's SCHOOL NEEDS
Some of Them Stated at First Hear
mo of Educational Commission

MONTPELIER. Jan. 9.-The newly con
stituted educational commission gave
a nublic hearing this evening in the
hall of Representatives on the ade-
ouacy of elementary and secondary
schools. Chairman John II. Watson
of Montpelier, Horace w. Graham OF
Craftsbury Percival w, Clement OF
Rutland. Frank II. Brooks of st.
.Johnsbury, ]. b. Estee OF Montpelier,
President Guy Potter Benton OF the
University of Vermont, President
John II. Thomas of Middlebury col
lege. Principal futile OF Bellows
Falls and Eli II. Porter OF Whining
ton. all members of the commission,
were present.
Representative Hapgood of Pera
was the first speaker and read fgur-
es showing illiteracy among school
teachers.
DR.. e. A. Bates of Bighgate ques
toned whether his town was getting
value received" FOR the money ex-
pended He criticised the lack Of
practical education as the Vermont
system is now carried out. He sug-
gested that county meetings be held
10 discuss the problem of better
schools.
Mr.. Jose of Johnson, who sent out
many invitations urging people to at
tend the hearing, prefaced his re-
marks by saying that those vitality
interested in the question were poor
ly represented. He criticised the clos
ing of many small schools and trans
porting of scholars to central schools
and said that Vermont stands 4Sd in
the 46 states in the amount paid its
school teachers. He thought an at
tempt was being made 10 unduly
push small children.
John II. Senter of Montpelier said
he was well aware that our curricu-
lum is spread over considerable ter
ritory. He told of petty jealousy arts
ing in small districts. He favored the
consolidation of many small schools
and especially in mountain towns
He denied that politics has anything
to do with the selection of town and
district superintendent. The speak
er cited many instances where there
is a seeming lack of fundamentals
in the instruction given in elemen-
tary schools. Mr.. Senter and Mr..
Jose engaged in a passage at arms
over a statement made by Mr.. Senter
who misquoted the gentleman from
Johnson.
Former Principal Allen OF the John
son Normal school thought that bet
ter training is needed for teachers.
We should raise the standard of oui
teaching force. Law for union sup
ervision is one of advancement
Superintendent Drown of Walling'
ford paid a compliment to our pres
ent school system, though he thought
there are many short comings in the
general scheme. He does not believe
that our curriculm is so extensive as
many of the speakers averred. lie
was strongly in favor of union dis
| tricts
Mr.. Hollister. a teacher in Goddard
seminary, said district supervision
has resulted in better prepared pup
! lis coming from the rural sections e
his school. Mr. Allen spoke a sec
ond time and said he believed tina
| Normal schools would soon become
thing of the past in Vermont.
Representative Ryder OF RockinA
ham. formerly a teacher, said he wa
by no means a pessimist as regard
the educational system OF Vermont
He suggested that there should be
codification Of our laws on educi
ton.
Principal Chittenden OF Burlinl
ton told of the efficiency OF tn
schools of this city. He favors tn
teacher training courses but is nc
in favor Of the present Normal schoC
system of the state. He argued 70
one first class Normal school.