The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-01-06
More About Education.

1t is encouraging to note that SO
many of Vermonts educators approve
of the recommendation of the state
educational commission. The out
come of the conference held at Mont
pelier Monday afternoon and yester-
day indicates that the changes when
the commission propose will have the
support of considerable portion OF
the teachers and school snpe'inten-
dents of the state. This attitude IL
one which augurs well for the success
OF the new plan, for it shows that
those whose duty it is to teach the
youth OF Vermont realize the short
comings of the present system. 1t Is
idle to deny that shortcomings exist.
There can be no evasion of the fact
that 80 per cent of the boys and girls
of the state do not receive in their
education practical training for the
duties which they take up after leav-
ing school
Here in Brattleboro, for example,
we have been wont to Judge the eiii-
cheney of our high school by its stand
ing with the New England college en-
trance board, not stopping to think
that only very small per cent of the
schools pupils ever have occasion to
take examinations for college. AIDE
qVate, preparation for those who
wish to go to college should, of course
be provided, and indeed there is no
intention that it should not be pro
vided, but what should also be incnd'
ed in our high school curriculum is
more in the way of useful, applicable
training for the boys and girls who
do not 30 to college. They are the
ones who are not getting what they
should out of their school years.
in this connection it is interesting
to consider briefly what the commits
sion recommends in the way of a
change in the point of division be-
tween elementary and high schools,
1t fayors the establishment in the
smaller towns of junior high schools
embodying the last two grades of the
present elementary system and the
Iirst two years of the present high
schools the junid' schools to present
a curriculum suitable to the needs
Of boys and girls between the ages of
l. and Is years. But in town the
size OF BrattleborO the commission
would have a senior high school with
a iouryear junior course as i'm the
JUROR high schools and anothC'
course of six years for pupils who
are fitting for college or are comple,-
ing course of general educate on.
Such an arrangement would Eican The
eribcdying Of the last two yeas cf
tho grades in the high school course,
and would make il possible for ersdu-
ates OF junior schools in smaller
towns to take an additional two-year
course here, either for college prepa =
alton or general education.
There are a great many things to
be said in favor Of this REQ ganiza-
zion. The increased attractions in
thc way of vocational training that
would thus be Offered to boys from
IL years upward would no doubt tend
to stimulate their interest in school
work. The influence of male teaohe 3
would be given them at a time when
ii is most needed. In short. the divi.
sion between elementary and secon-
day education would be placed at
tho point where there is natural
change IN the life OF the normal
child
This change is one OF the most
important Of tho many which the com
mission recommends with Il viow TO
making NerlRont's educational sys.
tom serve mtge useful purpose
The Reformer believes that ali os
them deserve favorable consideration
from the legislature. Brdltleboro Re.
fCiMe,