The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-01-01
In Building Up Their Public
School Systems, Says
State Board
NORMAL SCHOOLS
ARE STRENGTHENED
In Other Ways the Board
Thinks Vermont Has
Made Progress

Made Progress
The report of the Vermont state board
Iof education for the biennial term 1912
IA shows that Vermont has not been sta
tionary in educational reform during the
period of the examination of its system.
The board has adopted regulations for
the certifcation OF high school teachers,
which places Vermont by the side Of
Massachusetts, and New York in requir
ing all high school teachers to be col
lege graduates, TO have specialized in at
least two subjects for three years in
college and in two others for two years,
and in addition to have devoted a part
of at least two years to special teacher
training. II is believed that the results
will be beneficial, for, as the report says,
-"The teacher makes or mars the
school Laws may be perfect, equip
ment ample, and public support loyal
and generous, but unless the teacher Is
competent and consecrated, the results
| in the lives OF the children win be dis
appointing. Vermont has no more Sc
rious responsibility than the determine
ton of the standards she viii enforce
in the appointment Of the teachers Of her
public schools"
Qualifications of Union Superinte7dents.
The board has also raised the stand
ards for certifcation Of union district
superintendents. Heretofore persons
who have never completed a high school
course have been able TO qualify for
these positions. The cost of this service
to the state exceeds $4,000 year. The
state is vitality interested therefore. in
the quality OF the persons chosen for this
work, and has a right 10 insist upon a
high degree Of special preparation. The
regulations adopted by the board require
graduation from a college or normal
school, teaching experience Of at least
two years, and evidence OF professional
knowledge of the history Of education,
educational psychology, school admins
tration, and methods Of teaching.
Elementary Teachers.
AZ 20 the certification Of teachers for
grade positions and district schools, the
report says, -"The present statutes upon
this subject arc elaborate and detailed. |
II would promote efficiency II the com
plcated provisions were all repealed and |
the entire matter placed in the hands Of |
the board Of education, with the sample |
provision that the board should deter |
mine the qualifications OF elementary |
teachers. The administration Of this |
provision would devolve upon the super |
intendent OF education, as az present, 1
but freedom and elasticity would be Sc
cured. and opportunity afforded to raise
the standard as circumstances might al.
low. The schools must 60 on, and they
must have teachers. but the quality Of
teachers will he determined in the end
bv the standards set by the state. When
the state is free, through its administra
tive agency, TO recognize fitness and mer
il, and 10 refuse approval Of those whom
experience has found 10 be unworthy no
matter what examinations they may
have passed the way will he open to
better teaching force throughout the en-.
tire bounds Of the state
Normal Schools and Training Classes.
The board has fun responsibility for
the state normal schools n Castleton /,
and Johnson. 1T has conceived its duty
to be that OF trustees, responsible 70 the /,
state 10 make these schools a. successful
and efficient a. possible during is ad.
Of them. The state has re-.
tablished and maintained them, and has Z
entrusted them 10 the care Of the board, [
and il is the clear duty Of the board 70 Z
make the most Of them AZ they are. IN !
good faith. 80 long as they are continued. Z
When the board came into Office. they {
found both schools in serious condition.
The entering class AZ Castleton numbered s
nine snd al johnson H.. The principal 5
u johnson had resigned in the middle Of q
he year, giving as his reason lack Of D
support on the part Of the state officials NJ
The board revised the course Of study a
hanged the entrance requirements. and
instructed the school 70 make a vigorous q
20 increase the attendance 90 e
hat the state would receive fun value :
or its appropriations The resalts have =
,een gratifying. The entering class O
numbers u this year az Castleton and (
70 at Johnson. The number Of students / 1
las increased from S. IN i9l2-I9i3 TO 3 ( I
n lql4-l5. and az Johnson from 81 70 s. .
n the same period" or the training d
lasses. Of which the board has author Il
red rs and 10 in the respective years, p
he report says.--The training classes ,
re now an essential part Of the state 3
yStem Of education aud shield b. fur
her encouraged and developed" q
Equalization Of School Privileges Q
The report eommends the recommend =
ion 81 the educational commission a. %
lore adequate state support Of schools
d small towns Il says.-"Any proposal j.
o lift the schools in the small t6Wns 70 /.
be level Of efficiency already attained IN
be more favored communities should
ave the respectful consideration II
very friend Of Vermont Your board y
Ill support with enthusiasm -uy prac-
.esl movement IN this direction. The
lequality 81 school advantages is the m
reEtest evil in Vermont edueation. The =
oTs and girls il many Of the small -
yv-ns are not getting e fair chance. n
heir school privileges are pitiably msa- =