Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-24

statement Of March 90, 1914, that the
first duty of the state is to the elemen-
tary and secondary schools, as urged by
the Carnegie Foundation is maintained
strongly by the commission. It Is in
fact their Fundamental position with ref
erence to Vermont education. and they
quote with approval my declaration,
made before the altitude of the commits
eon on this subject was Known ac-
cept further the principle that the pr-
mary and supreme duty of the State in
educational matters Is to it's elementary
and secondary schools The education of
the mass OF the people must always be
the first concern of the people. Money
that is needed for efficient admlnistra-
tion of state educational system and for
proper stimulation of local support of
both elementary and secondary schools
should not be diverted to higher educa-
tor for resources that are needed by the
little children of Vermont
with the exception of the state
scholarships, therefore, which the COM
mission does not see its way to recon-
mend the Middlebury position is sus-
tanned. Scholarships are direct gifts to
Vermont students, and only Indirectly a
help to the colleges.
"The reasons why I believe in these
scholarships arc set forth In my state
ment. and I still believe they are valid
II there are objections to the present
method Of assigning scholarships. I have
outlined in my statement how those OBJ
iections can be met, but it would he bet
ter to continue them in their present
deserving students. I appeal to the
alumni many Of whom have pe~n as
sisted by scholarship grants and who
know how indispensable thev are to
large number of Vermont youth. to reg
lister their influence in favor Of their
continuance The cost to trc State of
the present number of Middebury
schola rships is only $500 a voar and it
can not be held that this amount would
interfere seriously with the commissions
plans.
g. ',- statement TO IN" commission
/ said concerning duplication Of effort
in Vermont colleges Provision may
be made in connection with any APP
preparation that it snail not become
effective unless the institution con
/ cerned abandons all duplication of eff
fort which is adjudEed by tho board
to be the proper and legitimate sphere
Of any other institution The educa-
tonal commission in conformity with
that suggestion makes It a condition
that we abandon certain engineering
work which is considered as duplca-
ton. It seems to me that II will be
wise for Middlehury College 20 accept
that condition, and | shall 40 advise
our trustees at the next opportunity.
IF any practical suggestions can be
made looking to a closer affiIiation 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 recog-
nized.
Il propose to stand before the Legis
lature for the essential features of the
reaching educational reforms ad-
vocated by the comm ission. 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 a college chance without as
sistance. | shall stand also for rea-
sonablc opportunities for Vermont
boys and girls to secure scholarship
grants. In this endeavor I ask ear
nestly for the encouragement and ac-
tive help of every alumnus of Middle
bury and every friend Of the ambi-
tious boys and girls of the Green
Mountain State"