Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1914-12-25

cripple it, in the face of the strong en-
dorsement of the commission. The
State does not want its teachers trained
with less efficiency than in the past,
and therefore it will not wish to accord
that work any less generous support
than has been extended hitherto.
Neither the Carnegie Foundation nor
the educational com mission has sug
gested the slightest criticism of the use
made by this college of its State appro-
priations, and whatever responsibilities
may be entrusted to us in the future
must be discharged with the same faith
full care to return to the State full value
for all we receive.
4. Further the position taken in my
statement of March 20, 1914. that the
| fiji st duty of the State is to the elemen-
tary schools, as urged by the Carnegie
Foundation, is maintained strongly by
the commission. 1t is in fact their fun
damenta position with reference to YER
mont education, and they quote with APP
proval my declaration, made before the
attitude of the commission on this sub
/ ject was known, Il accept further the
principle that the primary and supreme
duty of tn State in educational matters
is to its elementary and secondary
schools The education of the mass of
! the people must always be the first con-
Germ of the people. Money that is need
ed for efficient administration of the
State educational system and for pro er
stimulation of local support of both ele-
mentary and secondary schools should
not be diverted to higher education. The
college must not be a competitor for re-
sources that are needed by the little
children of Vermont"
With the exception of the State schol-
arships, therefore, which the commits
sion does not see its way to recommend
the Middlebury position is sustained.
Scholarships are direct gifts to Ver-
mont students, and only indirectly a
help to the college.
The reasons why | believe in these
scholar hips are set forth in my state
ment, and l still believe they are valid.
If there are objections to the present
method of assigning scholarships, have
outlined in my statement how those OBJ
! jections can be met, but it would be
better to continue them in their present
form than to refuse all aid to needy and
deserving students. / appeal to the
alumni, many of whom have been assist
ed by scholarship grants and who know
how indispensable they are to large
number of Vermont youth. to register
their influence in favor of their contnu-
ance. The cost to the State of the
present number of Middlebury scholar
ships is only 81, 800 year, and it can
not be held that this amount would
interfere seriously with the commits
sion's plans.
In my statement to the commission
said concerning duplication of effort in
| Vermont colleges, -"Provsion may be
made in connection with any appropria-
ton that it shall not become effective
unless the institution concerned aban-
dons all duplication of effort which is
adjudged by the board to be the proper
and legitimate phere of any other insti-
tuition" The educational commission in
conforming with that suggestion makes
it a condition that we abandon certain
engineering work which is considered as
duplication. 1t seems to me that it will
be wise for Middlebury college to accept
that condition, and shall so advise our
trustees at the next opportunity.
If any practical suggestions can be
made looking to a closer utilization of
Vermont colleges, we will welcome them
cordially and in a patriotic spirit. We
ask only to be allowed to do our part in
the educational service of the State, and
to have it officially recognized.
propose to stand before the legisla-
ture for the essential features of the
far-reachng educational reforms advo-
Gated by the commission, for the his
toric position of Middlebury college as
an equal with other colleges of the
State, for the principle of cooperation
of the State with the college, for the
peculiar mission of our college as the
training place of Vermont secondary
teachers-all of which positions the
commission has endorsed and, in JUS
tice to the ambitious youth who could
never get college chance without as
sistance, | shall stand also for reason
able opportunities for Vermont boys
and girls to secure scholarship grants.
In this endeavor ask earnestly for the
encouragement and active help of every
alumnus of Middlebury and every friend
of the ambitious boys and girls of the
Green Mountain State.