Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-07-01


and religious Observation-Disclosures through
out Vermont in serving all the people OF
the State.
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION.
! with the liberal grants for agricultural
extension provided by the federal gov
eminent as an incentive. the General
Assembly OF the state of Vermont has
made financial provision for the continued
proper prosecution OF this important fea-
ture Of our State university effort.
Under the leadership of Dean Hills, of
! the college of agriculture with the i'm
mediate responsibility for the work of
agricultural extension resting upon Mr..
Bradlee, the director, the influence OF
the university has been carried during
the past year out into the remote corners
| Of the State Eleven out OF our fourteen
counties are provided with county agri-
cultural advisors appointed by the ex-
tension department OF the university col
lege OF agriculture. It Is our purpose to
| encourage by proper methods of inten-
sive farming the increased productive
| ness OF our farm lands. and to mako the
farmers vocation more attractiv to the
promising young men of the State; but
above all We hope to bring to farmers
and farmers wives the inspiration that
has been so long denied them and. through
these increased cultural opportunities, to
make the IA rms OF Vermont the most de-
sirable and satisfactory centers Of our
twentieth century civilization.
The farmers of this State are alert to
their opportunity They are an inteln-
gent body OF people and they are anxious
to Cooperate through their associations
with the university In advancing the
work OF civic Improvement through rural
betterment
| The recent acquisition on the part of
the state OF the Lyndonvlle Agricultural
School made possible by the generous
gift Of Hon. Theodore n Vail. of our
board Of trustees, has brought Vermont
| still nearer to the forefront of progress
In the work of agricultural education in
this country. The action of the Legisla-
ture in providing that the dean Of the
University Of Vermont college Of agri-
| culture shall be a member of the board
OF trustees of the two State schools of
agriculture in Vermont will relate this
institution more intimately than hereto
fore with the schools Of elementary agr-
culture and will bring the State nearer
to the adoption Of policy for the unifca-
ton of all the work of higher education
under one mana cement This desirable
end, when realized will guarantee an
| efficiency Of work in agricultural educa-
ton In this State altogether impossible
| under the old system of divided RESPONSE
bilty.
MIR Walter H. Crockett State histo-
rian, reporter of the General Assembly,
and a we'll known newspaper man. by
direction Of the executive committee, has
been placed in charge OF all experiment
, station, extension service and other uni
vers1ty publications. The engagement of
man of the recognized ability of Mr.
Crockett for this important service is an
advance guarantee OF improved bulletins
that will rebound to the good of our con-
stituency throughout the entire State.
Mr.. Crockett will also have charge of
the work of publicity and the university.
with his help. will reach the people of
the State through the public press in
ways that will prove advantageous to all
concerned
HONOR SCHOLA RSHIPS
Another innovation resulting from a
late action of the executive committee
has been received with gratifying APP
prevail by educational leaders through
out the State. l refer TO the award of
honor scholarships to students taking the
highest class rank during four years
course in the accredited preparatory
schools of the State. 1t is not expected
that all those who receive these scholar
ships will enter the university. Our pur-
pose is to cooperate with the high school
and academy authorities of the State in
scholarship that will give intellectual ef-
tort the recognition which, in this day
of peculiar emphasis upon athletics and
social life in schools and college. is quite
necessary as a means Of guaranteeing the
right perspective to young people It Is
our hope that those who receive these
scholarships from the university will be
advantaged by tho honor in the event
that they become students in other instl-
buttons,
THE VERMONT EDUCATIONAL COM
MISSION
In discussing the future of the univer-
sity reference must necessarily be made
to the recent educational movements in
this State which make possible our hope
for future progress.
More than two years ago the author
ties Of the university, after a careful
consideration OF the educational situa-
ton In Vermont. and after hearing the
arguments Of those charged with the re-
sponsibility of directing the elementary
and secondary schools of the State. be-
came we'll convinced that necessary
preliminary to sane reform and desir-
able improvement In the work of educa-
ton would be a special study Of exist
ing conditions by an impartial committee
OF representative citizens, duly appoint
ed, to look carefully into our school and
college system in its entirety. At our re-
quest, therefore, Governor Fletcher rec
commended to the General Assembly the
passage of a joint resolution providing
for the appointment of an educational
commission BY unanimous action of
both Houses OF the General Assembly
the recommendation was adopted and
the commission ordered The governor
called to the work Of this commission
nine men OF unquestioned ability and
with no personal ends to serve These
men. through two years. devoted them
selves painstakingly to a study of our
educational problem and finally embodied
their conclusions in a report to the gov
ernor and In bill offered to the General
Assembly, Reference has been previous
ly made to the bill in this report.
The need of the help OF disnterested
experts was recognized by the education
al commission and the Carnegie Founda-
ton for the advancement OF teaching was
asked to cooperate In making an educa-
tional survey OF the State The results OF