Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-04-17

The State board Of education has
been at work only q few months, and
yet the published announcement Of
the secretary, Representative II. d.
Ryder Of Bellows Falls, shows that
distinct progress has been made. Su-
perintendents of schools must possess
Tar higher qualifications than former
~ were required. They must not only
have college degree or normal
course following four years course
In secondary school, but they must
also have had two years af actual
teaching experience, evidence of
knowledge of the history of educa-
tion ana school administration and
of methods of teaching.
Teachers in high schools must also
possess particular qualifications in ad-
dition to those hitherto held requisite
and other measures have been taken
to assure better educational work in
Vermont's public schools.
That this work is attracting wide
spread attention at home as we'll as
abroad is evidenced by the letters re-
ceived and the comment of the press
The Christian Science Monitor of Bos.
ton, for example, prints the following.
"Thc order of the day in educational
administration is for experts from
without to be called in to pass upon
the efficiency of local and State sys-
TENS Possibly some daye national
survey will be made by a board of ad-
Imittedly competent Europeans formally
chosen for the task OF course. in
formally, we now get much the same
the United States written by foreign
crs, especially in those of them writ
ten by scholars who have served as cx-
change lecturers at universities and
colleges.
Vermont, among the States, is one
Of the latest eXpermenters with tho
new process of probing by outsiders,
the work being carried on by the Car
negie Foundation for the Advancement
of Teaching at the invitation of the ed
ucational commission created by the
Legislature last December. CHARGED
with the very important duty of study
ing the feasibility of co-ordinating the
entire educational system of the state
and reporting on the same to the Leg
islature, this commission very SEN
sibly decided that, before it could ar
que it must know the premises, and
that before it could generalize it must
have specific facts on which safely to
base conclusions.
Fortunately, being made up OF men
of eminence in no wise connected with
any of the higher Institutions that are
to be investigated and co-ordinated.
the commission has the more weight.
and hence, also, whatever it reports
will come nearer to representing ex-
act conditions. Some States, in nam
ing similar commissions charged with
similar duties, have forestalled thor
oughgoing action by choice of COM
missioners incapable of judicial at
titude in deciding on policies affecting in
stitutions in which they hold Office or of
which they are graduates, Vermont has
erred in the opposite way. if at all.
zone fact energies at this stage of the
proceedings, namely, that Vermont is
leading where other New England States
must follow If for no other reason, COM
petition of States further West, we think.
must soon force on New England con-
siderable reconstruction OF its notions ana
methods of education as related to social
service. The unregulated competitive sys-
tenn, in this field as in others, has about
worked itself out
There must be cooperation and co-or-
dination between all educational agencies
and more direct approach to the people
together with greater facilities for col
lege and university education, if need be
at public expense. That is in some way
or other the handicap under which a
Massachusetts, boy of ambition and tai
ent but with moderate means now labors
in competing with an Illinois or Wiscon-
sin or California boy must pass New
England sooner or later must democratlze
her higher educational system"
The Enosburg standard in an able
editorial dealing with the educational
situation in Vermont says:
The report of the Sage Foundation.
from which the Standard quoted at the
time Of its publication a few months ago,
showing the high rank held by Vermont
In educational work. was in the nature
OF revelation to many Vermonters, who
had not fully appreciated the splendid
progress that Vermont had been making.
until the result of this expert, impartial
and thorough investigation, covering the
lentire country was made public.
This Certifying report, rather than
causing Vermont to rest upon her
laurels, has served as an incentive to
greater activity and the inauguration Of
measures to still further improve and
perfect the States educational system
| THE Standard rac.r,1,, suola IN cor,