Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-10-19


sisting such schools. This is another
evidence of the general policy of improv-
ing instruction, particularly in the vii
lage and rural communities of our State.
The organization within these schools is
sufficiently flexible 20 meet the needs
of individual communities If boys and
girls must leave school in order to be-
come wage earncrs ii Is essential that
we provide work such as to avoid their
feeling in later life that they wasted
even the time they did spend in school
In the rural communities much of the
boys work will hinge about agriculture.
The girls will in turn deal with the az
fairs of the household. Students within
these schools will receive no less instruc-
ton in arithmetic, in English. and in
sciences They will, however. study with
some purpose and thus they Will better
understand the significance of the sub
jects ia ght: In these schools the way
must be kept open for those who will
eventually go to college but we must not
close our eyes to the fact that many will
never reach such Institutions and they,
foo, Are entitled to the best the state can
offer. At present there are eleven such
Junior high schools in villages or rural
communities and one in the city of Bur
llngton. These schools are receiving
much attention in order that the expert
enCe gained in their establishment and
conduct may be available for other COM
munties later. We have been fortunate
in securing one who has given this suo-
ject much attention and careful study
as supervisor of junior high schools.
Those who have investigated this prob
1em elsewhere assure us Chat no state
has undertaken this work more inteli-
gently or with better PROSPECTS for sue
cess than has Vermont.
| There exists generally throughout the
State "A most inspiring loyalty to teach
ers. Some of the most pleasant expert
,ences connected with my duties as com
missioner have been the voluntary trib
utes that have been paid to our teach
ers and superntcndents. Such criticisms
as have come have almost without eX-
cepton been tempered with justice.
While this loyalty is most inspiring to
| tea chers ii must not be mistaken for con-
Itentment with existing conditions. If We
are to have thoroughly efficient schools
we must have thoroughly efficient teach
ers. That Vermont expects the teachers
!tt improve is clearly indicated by its ala
ltitu,'e toward the employment of quail
fed teachers. The Legislature Of 1915 CA
ltablshel the principle of assisting those
towns which choose to employ trained
teachers in their rural schools. The ef-
feet of this policy was clearly shown dur
ling the past year. Between the school
year 1914 and the following year teach
ers' salaries in Vermont increased about
six per cent. Between last year when
1.-The new. law was in force and the pre-
Lceeang school year the increase in teach
.era' salaries WAS more than eleven per
.Geut.. it has sometimes been asserted
that the towns have used the State S
aid to decrease school taxes and that
the teachers and schools have not been
gainers by this new regulation. This as
sertion has no foundation in fact, for
even. without the aid given by the State
the towns have raised the teachers sal
aries more than $4,000. The state will re-
turn to the towns employing trained
teachers last year approximately $4,000
The Increase in teachers salaries last
year. oyer the preceding year was. s1SS,.
900
r. .-rERTIFICATING TEACHERS.
on the first day of last July new
method of certificating teachers went in
to effect Briefly stated. the present re-
tquirements for teachers certificates ir
this State are professional training OF
professional training and successful ex
perience. Teachers examinations have
been abolished. | have sometimes regret
ted that my introduction to many teach
ers was Of necessity in the capacity of &
somewhat stern judge OF their qualfi
cations for the new form of certificate
Stree July two out Of every three teach
ers in our State have applied for the new
form of certificate. The new regulations
leave considerable discretionary powe
!, with the commissioner. At first it seem
cd that il would probably be necessar!
To make exceptions to meet individual
cases. When | saw the sacrifices, how
ever that many of our teachers Wer'
making in order 10 comply with the new
regulations i was convinced that justice
to them as well as to the schools re
: qured that all be treated alike. l an
2 therefore able to say at this time tina
/ no exception has been made in the GER
/ litigation of any teacher within thi
= state. If any teacher has been disap
s pointed in not receiving AS high grad
r of certificate as she desired there is thi
= consolation no other teacher with Xix
= qualifications has received any highe
n grade of certificate. Many who applied
@ for one certificate have been surprise
$ to find that their qualifications entitle
). them to a higher grade than the on
nj which they expected.
s The teachers have ON their part respond
v ed 10 the newer demands of the Stat
X I'm A truly gratifying maiiner. Durin
= the past summer one out frf every tire
e tof' olu teachers attended at least thre
r. weeks Of summer school. A large mum
e Der of them took full six weeks course
Y at colleges and universities Inquir
~ among school officers leads me to be
o iieve that this is "A record not approache
e in amy other State in the Union. 1t wa
n Inevitable that among so large grou
e of persons, whether they belonged To tn
al teaching profession or any other, ther
y sirould be some "time-seryers" Thes
al need cause us little concern because the
al will soon find themselves outclassed
ID honest competition in good teaching
p is significant that the instructors undo
r whom these teachers worked during I'll
ii past summer have almost without g,
Is Iccption commented on the sincerity an
D. ability of those who came into the
D. classes. With the rise of this profession
n fai spirit among the teaching force
Id our state there comes the necessity
10 providing through summer schools
ID otherwise the type Of instruction Thu
will be most helpful to the teacher ar
ut consequently most helpful to the educ
l. tional interests of the State.
N. NORMAL SCHOOLS
'ss During the past few years there hay
- been determined efforts to place a TRAN
ed teacher in. each school in this Stat
y, For this purpose the state has been wi
W ing to support normal schools and trail
"a ing classes within our high schools, Th
y policy has been in operation long enoul
- to begin to show some of the result
!. During the school year l9l5-l6 the Sta
nff pix .f.,I,.