The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-03-11


one OF many subjects In fact, II
one has thorough knowledge and
understanding OF one subject he Is
doing we'll
I'm those DAYS the teachers did not
have, nor did they need, broad cul-
ture or special training. Much ridi-
Guile has been thrown upon the old
fashioned country school teacher, who
was generally man, often OF middle
age and seldom Of finished education,
but in practical common sense, ana
in his efforts to make the boys
realize that life was not an empty
dream but thing of stern realities
and that II was the boys and not the
teachers work that must make the
boys fortune or position in the
world there were elements which 1t
is pity to have been partially drop
ped out of the modern education.
Education. particularly primary,
was simple and comparatively mex
pensive. The members of any COM
munity were fully competent to direct
and supervise it within the authoriz-
alton of the laws of the state To-
day the matters of education, even
the primary. are complex and involy-
ed, and while the qualifications OF
the members OF any community In the
state have probably improved over
those then existing. there is not that
expert knowledge necessary to prop
erly deal with educational subjects as
they are today.
Then, again, TO give the children
of the rural communities all the ad-
vantages that the children OF the cen
tralized and Weather communities
have, 1t is essential that large part
of the expense in some of them be
borne by the state The state hav-
ing made 1t incumbent upon each
child to get some years of schooling,
the state cannot escape the moral OBJ
legation of providing way for MIN
TO get it, For these two reasons,
therefore, one the infinitely greater
knowledge of the subject necessary to
properly supervise education, and the
other the fact that the state must pay
the bill in rural communities, the
state should have supervision through
a most carefully selected board of edu
cation and the best qualified exper.
agents Of that board.
Let all join in the effort to provide
for each youth. boy or girl, of the
state an education which will enable
them to- take prompt advantage of
their experiences as they arise, by
giving them an understanding OF TIN
real work of life, its requirements,
and what is necessary TO accomplish
it,
THE time is past when sheer force
of will or ability alone can get far In
this world. There Is too much COM
pleMty in life. the conditions are toe
involved There must be a founda
ton IL the youths are to be developed
into representative citizens.
Vermont has sent forth thousands
who have become creative citizens OF
other communities The old stock
still exists Some opportunities are
developing. All that is necessary is
to assist the youth through the pre-
Iiminary maze which modern clviliza-
ton has surrounded them with, ana
place them where they can help them
selves. But surely that much does
constitute very distinct obligation
of the state itself, and one which the
state cannot ignore without discredit
ing herself in comparison with her
sister commemorative. which have
been quicker to recognize and per-
form their full duty
81 remain. my dear governor, with
great respect,
Very sincerely.
"Theo. n. Vail