The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-07-30
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
BY UNION SuPERINTEN-
DENTS

We, the Union Superintendents o.
the State Of Vermont, do hereby de
clare and affirm the following princi
pies and policies to be conducive TO th'
educational welfare Of the State.
We believe that increased emphasis
should be placed upon the fact tha'
the school is for the child; that th'
study of the child and the develop
ment of its powers is the chief con
Germ of the teacher; that the course Of
study should be related to the life Of
the community, and that the public
school should provide adequate an'
equal opportunity for every child.
We believe that the minimum age
for admission to the elementary
schools should not be less than siS
years.
We believe that the maximum num-
Der of pupils taught by one teacher in
both graded and rural schools should
be limited by law.
We believe that the welfare of the
individual child should not be sacri-
feed TO the requirements of an inffex-
ible system of grading and promotion
We believe in improved and ade-
quate training facilities in order to
provide a trained teacher for every
school at the earliest possible date.
We believe that minimum wage
for elementary teachers should be es-
tablished by law.
We believe that it is the duty of
the superintendents to encourage and
assist the teachers under their super
vision to increase their efficiency by
professional reading and study
We believe that superintendent
should be secured in their positions
by legislative enactment and subject
to removal only for cause and with
the approval of the State Board Of
Education.
We believe that supervision through
out the State should be required by
law and that the Board of Education
should have authority to determine
the limits of the supervisory unions.
We believe that the six-year ele-
mentary and the six-year secondary
school plan is correct in principle and
should be Investigated as to its adap-
liability to the various sections Of the
State and recommended fer trial
where conditions are favorable.
We believe that the State should
appropriate sum of money to be
added annually to the School Fund
for increased State aid.
We believe that the term standard
school should be substituted in the
law for the term legal school, with
specific definition of what shall con
stitute a standard school, including
condition of building and grounds,
material equipment and qualifications
and educational preparation Of the
teacher, in order to promote the estab-
lishment and maintenance of superior
schools and prevent the distribution
of public funds for the support of in
efficient and uneconomical schools.
We believe that a comprehensive
pension system should be adopted as
means of securing created educational
efficiency.
We favor a Board of Education
which shall administer the laws of the
State relating to public education,
which shall have control of all educa-
tional institutions supported by the
State and which shall direct and con-
troll the expenditure of all money ap-
propriated by the State for educa-
tional purposes.
We recognize the needs of experts
in special lines covering the field of
education, who shall act as agents of
the Board Of Education, as investiga-
tors of special problems and needs,
and as official advisers to superinten-
dents and teachers.
We believe that educational pro-
gress is promoted and that the best in
terests Of the State are conserved by
investigation and inquiry, and we
pledge our cooperation with all
agencies that aim to discover weak
nesses and devise remedies without
prejudice and with loyalty to the
welfare Of our State.
Eighth Annual Conference
Vermont Association NJ T1uiop S,,pav-