The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-04-18
PROF. HlLLEeAs ON VERMONT
Says State Has Promising Educational
Future.


In an interview published in the
Middlebury Register, DR.. Milo b. Hille-
gas, new commissioner Of education
Tor Vermont, is quoted as follows
Il go 10 Vermont commented the
commissioner-elect, firmly believing
that no state similarly situated has
any more promising educational
future before it, Vermont has had its
period of critical examination and is
now ready TO enter upon construc-
tive era, both hroadminded and in
some respects radical. Also, Vermont
has an exceptionally high grade OF
teachers, which together with the pre-
sent statewide desire for improve
ment, am sure, will in short order
eliminate any weak spots that now eX-
list. In the matter of elementary
schools and school teaching, | have
long since known that taking them
throughout the state there is not a
single one Of the really big modern
developments that is not being given
trial somewhere.
Speaking about the curriculum, DR..
Hillegas continued, 1T is not going to
be my policy to make any radical
changes at first but rather to build up
a uniform course OF study for the Gle
mentary and secondary schools which
will be capable Of adaptation accord
ing to the conditions OF a particular
school. With this frame work and by
means of the supelintendents of the
various union school districts | hope
in due time to have the standard of
the backward rural or district schools
upon par with the best anywhere;
not but what there already are quite
few excellent rural schools.
"On the other hand hope to see
the junior high schools multiply so
that for the first two years no boy or
girl need 90 so far that he or she can
not live at home ! feel that it is not
advisable for them TO be away from
the home influence so early as this.
As fer those who wish to continue the
high school work why they are older
and better fitted to go to some neigh
boring town which offers the complete
coarse.
After outlining this plan OF in.
creasing the number Of Junior high
schools, DR. IIilleeas went on to the
normal school question pregacing his
remarks by admitting that he knew il
to be one OF the knCttiest problems of
all
The normal schools" continued
Dr.. Hillegas presents two problems.
First, the state and localities already
have considerable capital invested in
these schools, and, second. a large
number of the girls are already avail
Ing themselves of TIE professional
training offered by these Institutions.
The problem confronting the state is
that OF obtaining the largest possible
return for its Investment in terms Of
well-trainea, competent teachers Now,
propose to do just the best | can
with what is already provided.
With regard to the three colleges,
MiddIebury, Vermont and Norwich,
desire 30 cooperate with them all.
wish for their support and help, so
that | can best servo them in provid-
ing an ever-increasing number OF Well
trained freshmen, In short, | 20 to
Vermont with the intention OF getting
the best possible results from the ex-
listing educational agencies. and TO
that end ! hope all three Of the col
lece3 will join with me | believe
that they are all much needed and
would not, ii could, inaugurate here
or elsewhere any radical changes The
three of them are already working eff
fectively for the bigger Vermont Of
tomorrow"