Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-01-01

lions of people are in the deepest stress
of fear and sorrow. Yet from this evil
good may come, even as from the sac
rifce of Christ Himself came blessings
to the world, for whose sake He had
appeared as the apostle of peace and
righteousness. w ashington Star.
BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT.
The report of the Board of Educa-
ton for the biennial term 1924
shows that Vermont has not been sta
tionary in educational reform during
the period of the examination of its
system. The Board has adopted regu
lations for the certification of high
school teachers, which places Vermont
| by the side of Massachusetts and New
York in requiring all high school teach
ers to be college 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 part of at least two years to
special teacher training. 1t is believed
that the results will be beneficial, for,
as the report says, -" The teacher
makes or mars the school. Laws may
be perfect, equipment ample. and pub
lie support loyal and generous, but I'M
less the teacher is competent and con-
secrated, the results in the lives of the
children will be Disappointing. Yer
mont has no more serious RESPONSE
biity than the determination of the
standards she will enforce in the APP
pointment of the teachers of her pub
lie schools,
QUALIFICATIONS OF UNION sUPERIN-
TENDENTS.
The Board has also raised the stand
ards for certfication of Union District
Superintendent. Heretofore persons
who have never completed a high achool
course have been able to qualify for
these positions. The cost of this service
to the State exceeds SIS, 900 a year.
The State is vitality interested, there
fore, in the quality of the persons
chosen for this work, and has a right to
insist upon a high degree OF special
preparation. The regulations adopted
by the Board require graduation from
college or normal school, teaching eX-
perience of at least two years, and evil
dence of professional knowledge of the
history of education, educational psy-
choogy, school administration, and
methods of teaching.
ELEMENTARY TEACHERS.
AS to the certifcation of teachers for
grade positions and district schools, the
report says, THE present statutes
upon this subject are elaborate and de-
tailed. 1t would promote efficiency if
the complicated provisions were all re-
pealed and the entire matter placed in
the hands of the Board of Education,
with the simple provision that the
Board should determine the qualifica
tons of elementary teachers. The adj
ministration of this provision would de-
volve upon the Superintendent of Edu-
cation, as at present, but freedom and
elasticity would be secured, and oppor-
tunty afforded to raise the standard as
circumstances might allow. The schools
must go on, and they must have teach
ers, but the quality of teachers will be
determined in the end by the standards
set by the State. When the State is
free, through its administrative agency,
to recognize fitness and merit, and to re-
fuse approval of those whom experience
has found to be unworthy, no matter
what examinations they may have
passed, the way will be open to bet
ter teaching,torce throughout the entire
bounds of the State"
NORMAL SCHOOLS AND TRAINING CLASSES
The Board has full responsibility for
the State Normal Schools at Castleton
and johnson. 1T has conceived its
duty to be that of trustees. responsible
to the State to make these schools as
successful and efficient as possible dur
| ing its administi alton of them. The
State has established and maintained
them, and has entrusted them to
the care of the Board, and it is the
clear duty of the Board to make the
most of them as they are, in good faith,
so long as they are continued. When
the Board came into office, they found
both schools in serious condition. The
entering class at Castleton numbered
nine and at johnson fifteen. The prn-
cipal at Johnson had resigned in the
middle of the year, giving as his reason
lack of support on the part of State of
fcials. The Board revised the course
of study, changed the entrance re-
to make a vigorous campaign to in