St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-02-10
Legislature Should Act.

Legislature should Act.
We reported in the news columns
Of last weeks issue the fact that the
legislature was likely to kill the edu-
cational bill prepared by the special
commission. That statement was
simply a statement of what we under
stood would probably happen and
not at all what we believe should
happen. These facts have been I'M
questionably shown regarding edu-
cation in Vermont:-That the
courses of the primary and second
airy schools are arranged as a col
lege preparatory course that all
children in the public schools must
follow; that only eight per cent. of
the children in the public schools
ever go to college and so ninety-two
per cent. of the school children are
educated for courses in higher edu-
cation they are never to take and
are not educated for the life they
are to live; and that the state is
spending a much larger percentage
of it's money for educational purpos-
es in institutions of higher learning
which are duplicating the work of
each other to a considerable extent
than any of the neighboring tsates.
Here are three wrongs in our edu-
cational system, none of which
should be allowed to continue. No
one will claim that the state should
continue to miseducate ninety-two
per cent. of our school children, or
promote the interests of the five
per cent. in Vermont colleges above
those Of the great mass of pupils.
The legislature should act in some
way to remedy these conditions, but
if it kills the bill before it nothing
will be accomplished to improve con-
ditions. Now let us consider for a
little the remedy the educational
commission has proposed.
1t proposes a change in the curri-
culum of the primary and secondary
schools which will give education for
actual life rather than for the col
Iege. This curriculum is to contain
some vocational instruction, espec-
tally in agriculture. 1T proposes to
consolidate existing schools wherever
it can be done to advantage, super
vision of all schools, a longer school
year, a Encouragement of courses
that would tend to keep the average
child in school one year more, and a
more general training of teachers in
the public schools. These ends
seem desirable enough so the legis-
lature should authorize them by sta
tute. 1t would be difficult for the
legislature to justify itself if it SIM
ply kills the bill and prevents any
improvements along these lines.
Some Objections Met-The pro-
posal to consolidate schools scares
some. We do not understand that
further consolidation is mandatory.
1t is simply provided for in case it
seems desirable. Very few towns
that have high schools at present
would be forced to send children be-
yond their borders for high school
instruction and not a large number
more than at present would require
transportation. The fear of these
things is somewhat exaggerated be-
cause the state board is given power
to act, in these matters.
Another objection that has some |
influence is the fact that no curri- !
culum has yet been devised to give !
the child more of the practical and |
less of the college preparatory in
struction and some ask, What is
proposed?" 1t must be admitted !
that Vermont is a pioneer in such an
effort but that does not prove it I'M
desirable or impossible. We are
confident the people of Vermont can
rearrange its instruction in the
schools and give the children more !
of the useful information. We also |
believe that education toward the |
practical life of the citizen is quite |
as cultural as athletics, the classics |
and much of the higher mathemat- !
les. The state should be given the
opportunity to make such an at
tempt Note also this is not to be
done at once. Two years are allow
ed for the preparation of such a !
course and another year given for it's
trial before it becomes permanent. |
During this time the training of
teachers could be carried on and
they fitted to teach along the new