The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-12-18
Trustees Consider Proposal
in Annual Report Just
Made Public
VAIL SCHOOL ALONE
FULLY SUFFICIENT
Value of Institution at Lyndon Nearly
S2s0,0o0 - Large Expenditure Neces-
sary to Put Randolph Plant in Condi-
ton for Effective Work.

RANDOLPH, Dee. 18.-The question
of what course the state of Vermont
should pursue in regard to agricultural
education may well become a prime
topic for legislative debate as the re-
suit of the report Of the trustees of
the state schools of agriculture, Just
made public. The trustees, Commits
sioner Ebert s. Brigham, Joseph /.
Hills, T. \. Vail, A. NJ. Vaughan and
George r. Chaffee, in effect ask the
legislature to determine on a definite
policy, and the determination of a pol
lev involves a consideration of whether
or not the state not only shall not build
additional agricultural schools, but
whether II shall abolish one Of the
schools which it now has.
The state at present maintains two
schools of agriculture, one at Randolph
Center and the Theodore y. Vail agri-
cultural school at Lyndon Center, the
gait of Mr.. Vail. The inventory of the
property at Randolph shows valuation
Of 200, with the use of other build
lngs not owned by the state, estimated
10 be worth $4,000. The inventory of
the Vail place shows a valuation Of
S2I9,957. The school at Randolph can
be given up with a loss Of only few
thousand dollars, while the abandon
ment Of the institution at Lyndon
would mean that the entire property
would be lost to the state.
The trustees, in urging legislative
determination of an agricultural school
policy, say they believe THAT the state
should provide facilities for every stu
dent who wishes to obtain instruction
Of the type offered by these schools,
because the future of Vermont depends
very largely upon the success of its
agricultural development. An ag-
rlcultural school with which is connect.
ed we'll equipped and well managed
farm, with a system of crops and live
stock so planned that a reasonable in
come can be realized, possesses great
possibilities. But, the report saws lat
cr, this laudable aim cannot be ade-
quatelv accomplished with a meagerlv
equipped plant"
The trustees. in dealing with the two
schools, say that in order that the Ran
dolph school be put in condition 70
give the proper kind of instruction to
its students an outlay of $74 900 will
be required, with 5000 q wear for
maintenance, while in the case of the
Nall school. $4,000 will be needed TO
remodel buildings, etc, when the Vail
residence Is turned over TO the state,
not an immediate expenditure, with
$4,000 year for maintenance.
| Among the items needed at once at
Randolph is a dormitory, the estimated
cost of which is $4,000, or more than
the whole plant is worth, as compared
with the value of the Vail school at
S279,951. More land is needed at Ran
dolph, at present there being even no
pasturage for the cows.
The trustees ask for a consideration
of whether 1t is necessary to maintain
| two agricultural schools in Vermont.
| The report points out that the maxi
mum attendance in the two schools
IN l9l5-l6 was l5S, while cit is the
| opinion of experts in secondary agricul.
tural education that 200 students NAV
be effectively taught in secondary
school. Continuing the report saws.
IF we grant the validity of this opin.
ion, Vermont does not now need two
schools, but also saying that there is
the possibility of larger future atten-
dance.
As TO the future attendance the re-
port points out that there are certain
developments which initiate against a
future need of two schools, pointing to
the increase in the number OF high
schools that now teach agriculture. II
is set forth that cit should be remem
bered that agricultural courses are now
being offered in at least 90 high schools
and that the state is appropriating sew
cral thousand dollars annually for the
support of this work.
The trustees declare that they are
credibly informed that the establish
ment of such courses in Wisconsin higl
schools has led to the abandonment O.
Que of the special state agriculture
schools because of lack of attendance
If this experience is duplicated in Yer
mont, if agricultural instruction can b.
had near at hand, we may not expec
greatly increased attendance at on
state agricultural schools. The theor,
SrT a NTrO. a EnEEI