The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-07-23

education IN colleges and universities
elementary, secondary, vocational, and
normal schools. The relation Of the
state to higher educttion does not con-
Germ us SO vitally perhaps, rs the con-
crete problems Of the education Of our
youth up TO college age. We may,
then, dispense with that division Of
the report, with the brief statement
that the Foundation advises the with
drawal OF state subsidies from all
higher institutions not owned and con-
trolled by the state This has natur-
ally called forth great deal Of criti-
cism. The policy does not imply any
disapprova of the three institutions;
University of Vermont, Middlobury
College, and Norwich University now
subsidized, nor docs il suggest that
higher education Is not legitimate
and necessary part Of the educational
responsibilities of this, and every
state 1t is regarded as the outcome
of economic necessity, in state
whose annual income is not more than
a single western state spends annually
upon the up-keep Of a single universi-
ty. The policy is based upon the prin-
ciple, that the chief problem with
which the state is concerned is the
care and development of its olemen-
tary and secondary schools.
Our existing educational system
comprises 240O public elementary
schools, with approximate registra-
ton of $1,000 children; high schools
supported by public taxation, 10 aca-
denies operating on private founda-
tions, reporting in the census Of 1910
a total Of 1922 students; two state
normal schools at Johnson and Castle
ton; four chartered colleges or uni
vorsities; a State School Of Agricul-
ture at Randolph: and State Indus
trial School at Vergennes for dcln-
quent boys and girls The state has
no institution for the care of defec-
tive children. They are usually in
structed in neighboring states
There is no central educational adj.
ministration touching all these insti-
tutions. The state Superintendent has
a certain power Of supervision, but
his staff is wholly inadequate, numeri-
cally, to the needs of the state. Adj
of normal schools and col
leges is in each class independent. The
town is the typical public school adj
unit. superintendent
appointed by the Board Of School Dir
ectors in each town, are in most cases
men with no professional experience
or knowledge of school affairs. In
1912-19l3 there were 55 unions in
cluding all but 60 of the towns. The
salaries of these union superinten-
dents range from $3.50 to S2599. Two
Of the fifty-fve are women. More
than one-half we're school principals,
Immediately preceding their election
as superintendent The foundation
recommends to the Legislature, the
creation Of new State Board of Edu-
cation, consisting Of five members, TO
serve without pay. This Board shall
De governing, rather than administra-
tive, and shall appoint Commission
er Of Education, through whom its
oversight of school affairs shall be
conducted and to whom shall be trans
ferred powers and duties now vested
IN the various Boards Of Trustees and
Education in all the state institutions,
.hus bringing these into a single edu-
.ational unit.
The back bone Of the whole report
S the discussion of the elementary
and the secondary school. What is
he matter with our rural schools?
There is something rotten in the
itate of Denmark, and Professor
iillegas has played Hamlet, in find
ng what il is. He says, Something
S radically wrong with a school in an
agricultural community that decelopes
notormen, stenographers, and type
writer's, and fails TO develope farmers,
airy-men and gardeners. A course
( study, prepared with the view Of
this condition, is the first
tep in reform. The standards by
'hich he judges our elementary
chools are four:
!. DO cur schools recognize the
arying conditions, environments, and
biities Of individual children?
2. DO they recognize the present
nd future needs Of the children?
3. Is the knowledge taught in such
form that it can be applied to pres
nj needs?
A. DO our schools afford uniform
oportunities to every child in the
ate
And by these four, they stand CON
.mned. The town administration is
Ireless and unbusinesslike. Rarely
e written contracts employed be-
ffTa