Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1915-03-05
THE NUB OF THE QUESTION.
BY John M. Thomas, d. D., LII. d.
President of Middlebury College.

President of Middlebury college.
Institutions, especially the colleges
and the normal schools, bulk too largely
in the current educational discussion.
The great question is, what are we
going to do to advance popular educa-
ton in the country and village schools
and in the high schools?
The most important responsibility, in
answer to that question, does not rest
upon the legislature, but upon the State
Board of Education. More will depend
upon the man chosen by the board as
Superintendent Of Education than upon
the legislation enacted in 1915. The new
SUPERINTENDENT should be large
min ed. broad guaged man, master OF
educational method, constructive edu-
cational statesman, far seeing, patient,
careful-working, above all partisanship,
prejudice and suspicion of demagoguery,
and not least Nermonter through and
through. / doubt the ability of any
man not thoroughly acquainted with
the ways of our people through long
years of life among us to work patiently,
tactfuly and with acceptance for the
improvement of our schools.
When the man is chosen, he should
not find himsely embarrassed by a large
mass of new educational legislation. II
he is a wise man, he will prefer to take
hold of things somewhat as they are
and bring about better conditions grad
ually and sensibiy.
A few things the Legislature could do
to prepare his way. First, make it pos
sible for him to have two good assist
ants. beside office help, for work in the
field
Secondly, give him free hand in i'm
proving the teaching force in the
country schools by placing all RESPONSE
bilitv for the certfication of teachers
upon the Board Of Education, repeating
the present cumbersome provisions.
Thirdly, provide from the consolidated
school fund for payment toward the
salaries of trained teachers in the small
towns, by a graduated scale according
to the degree of training This will put
the money where the children will get
the benefit of it, encourage the towns
to employ better teachers, make 1t
worth while for young women to pre-
pare themselves thoroughly for teach
ing. and build up the attendance in both
normal schools and teacher training
classes.
We all want to do great things for
Vermont schools, but there is danger
lest we try to do it all by legislation.
We want more practical courses-and
none want them more than the colleges.
1t is no advantage to the college to have
elementary courses so dry that the boys
cannot stand them and drop out. The
better YOU make the lower schools,
from the peoples point of view, the
better it will be for those higher. But
the courses of study in all the schools,
elementary and secondary, are by
present statute absolutely in the hands
of State administrative officers. They
can make them as practical, as voca
tional, as they please. We do not neeC
new law to compel the making of {
new course of study forthwith. I'm
questionably that is one of the frs
things new superintendent will do, anC
he has all the power necessary to Sc
cure its adoption just as fast as teacher:
can be found competent to carry it out
(See Public Statutes, Section 923, anC
No 62, Acts of 1912, Section POI.
Both normal schools and colleges are
integral part of State system Of
education All States recognize the
need of normal training and Vernon
should provide for it more generously
than in the past. A modest sum, placed
in the hands of the State Board fol
division between Castleton and John
son, would enable these schools largely
to increase their service. The college:
should be told frankly that the State
cannot assume responsibility for theil
support, but the State can well afforC
to cooperate with them and thus en-
courage gifts from private benefactors
Since the State began its appropriation
to Middlebury college, attendance has
increased six fold, endowments of hall
million have been secured, largely from
without the State, half dozen large
and beautiful buildings have beer
erected. and the institution has ad
vanced into excellent rank among
American small colleges. 1t was
wise saying of Poor Richard that the
Lord helps them that help themselves
and Vermont will do we'll to follow Sc
excellent a principle. Advance.