The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-02-09
DOES VERMONT WANT
EDUCATIONAL CAR?
Ide G. Sargent of Paterson, N. j., Points
Out Some Features Of Yermont'S
Educational Bill.

Editor Barre Times Are the people
of Vermont ready to surrender all con
troll of their schools and establish an abb
solute monarchy, with the state com
missioner OF education as ear OF the
systemg That Is what they will do il
they enact the educational bill into law
Not only viii il do this, but it viii place
the commissioner not only beyond THEN
control, but also beyond the control Of
the governor, unless he should be elect.
ed for more than one term. This is the
way it will be done.
Chapter ], section 2 in providing for a
state board OF education. states that the
members shall be appointed for a term
OF FIVE years, And no member of said
state board shall be otherwise employed
in educational system, or otherwise con-
nectcd with educational institutions OF
other special educational interests" See
ton : saws these members can only be
removed for some misperiormance OF
duty Consequently, it is beyond the
power, even Of the governor. to change
a majority OF the state board during his
term of office. Section provides: "The
members of said board shall serve With
out paw" Section u provides: eThe
chief executive officer OF said board shall
be a commissioner OF education, who
sLall be appointed by the board for an
indefinite term, and be subject to remoS.
al only upon majority vote OF the en-
tire board" This practically gives life
position to the commissioner of educa-
ton. at such salary as the state board
may determine.
| Could law be more skilfuily drawn
to give absolute power to any man than
this? A state board is appointed for
five years by the governor. This board
Is placed beyond his power OF removal
except for disability. The governor Is
prohibited from appointing anyone con
nected with any educational institution
educational interests or educational sery'
ice. This bars every person with pro-
fessional knowledge OF education, every
prominent man and woman who is trus-
tee for any college. academy, seminary or
institute and might be construed TO bar
even those who ever gave dollar as en-
dowment to any school. Perhaps the
folly of this prohibition may best be
4 shown BY the question, Is there any 9th
or business under heaven, in which its
board of directors would be restricted
absolutely, to persons who knew nothing
about the work which they were sup
posed to manager The evident intent Of
this provision can only be compared with
that OF the attorney who insists that to
qualify for iuryman, man must de-
clare he has never heard OF the case, does
not read the papers, consequently has no
opinion in the matter. Furthermore, the
fact these men are to serve without com
pensation shows, very little is expected
OF them, except 70 bring the commits
sioner of education into being, and then
act as an agency to endorse and register
his DEGREES. The restrictions surrounding
the appointment OF this board ensures
the commissioner OF education being SUI
preme II prevents every possibility OF
there being any person on the state
board who can intelligcntly criticise his
plans from the professional standpoint
and was probably so intended
DO our people want a state board OF
education so ignorant OF the professional
side Of education as 10 be incapable OF
an opinion on the commissioners plans
until they have been tried and maybe
resulted in costly failure
/ At least one member Of the state board
Of education should have a thorough
knowledge of the professional side of
education.
While nominally the educational in
| terests Of the state are under the con-
troll Of the state board. IN reality they
are in the hands OF the state commits
sioner. And this commissioner is beyond
the power OF the people 10 reach 50 far
as removal is concerned whether they
like his policy or not, inasmueh As HIS
appointment j. thrice removed from
them. Should the present bill become a
/ law. the state commissioner Of education,
/ should be be 20 inclined. can snap biz
/ fingers in our faces il We do not like
what he is doing and ask Us; "What can
YOU do about ~" and we could DO moth
/ ing. Tic couldn't bc removed If be acted
/ in good faith and WIS Of good character.
even hy the state hoard. and II DE iif
wrong il would require q majority 81
the entire state board 10 remove him.
, II would he impossible for q governor
elected expressly Tor that purpose 70
change majority Of the state board
during his term. therefore TIM state som
missioner could defy the governor Tie
1 has only 10 satisfy iis board and biz po-
sitioHi Is imppgnable, DO We want =
state commissioner 40 intrenched a. 10
I DEFY The entire state ~ DO We want him
auienshic 10 the majority 81 our people ?
I Put. say the friends 81 this scheme. a
man hig enough g. - commissioner ~
eIucafiou viii b. above surh a thing.
I But g this trtct IN all human history
I has : single man appeared Who showed
4 II 70 - safe ~ wise 10 entruFt him with
f absolnfe paueff 80 not ono. Rut e
nav ~ urged There is the state hoarl
Pvt fhe state bard j. pouerless n re-
move him ~ bong az they can ret ueth-
I ing more than IN error ~ Judgement
Z against sim And is a state hasrd 60
T - tfnrief with ai,=oluie power We
T farwna q state commission 70 invest e. 'a
Cur school ststeu. Did thsy Do az 80.
4 They farmed n ont 20 the Nnrnarlc
+ Formulation. Ikeaise with their rreuln-
. 1nauaatiou for chnnees in our school sFs-
fsm and e. - r0usistrut I sm told bad
thia SIN drawn n the ssme piace. lt
srar ~ further urged iiat D. win Fear
. tir working f1rtf iu 01F st.aois thrslgh-
eaf $40 sfrfe hf ttis sin aFasunt ~
. not htrr - tha nv b,II Pisces ths rHf-rf
a.. -. F-.-s ~ hfa hama n n-HtfH