The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-10-12
|DR. HILLEGAS
|NAUGURATED
Formally Indicted into Of
flee of Commissioner
of Education
HE THEN OUTLINED
HIS POLICIES
Address Was Given Before
Vermont State Teach
ers' Association


flee of state commissioner OF education
this afternoon at the first session of the
9th annual convention of the Vermont
State Teachers association. the exercises
being held in the Strong theatre. DR..
IIillegas entered upon his duties as com.
missioner July /, last.
After music and an invocation by Rev.
Isaac c. Smart of the College street Con-
gregational church, the welcome address
in behalf of the city of Burlington was
very happily given by Mayor Albert S.
Drew. This was followed by very fit
ting response and an address on The vi.
talization of Our Schools" by Edwin l..
ingalls, OF Burlington, president OF the
association. At the close OF this address
the chairman, James Hartness of Spring
field, presented John Huston Finley, LII.
D., president of the University OF the
State OF New York and commissioner OF
education of New York, who delivered
splendid address.
The state board of education through
its chairman, James Hartness OF Spring
field, then formally indicted Dr. Milo b.
Hilegas into the office OF commissioner
of education. At the close of the in
auguration ceremony DIR. Hillegas deliv-
cred an address on "Nermont's Educa
tional Policy" The deep interest with
which the large gathering, composed
mostly of teachers from every town in
the state, followed DR.. Hillegas' address,
clearly showed deep loyalty for the
new head of the educational department
and keen understanding and apprecia-
tion of the wisdom and foresight with
which he is to direct the educationa pol
| icies of Vermont
! Dr. Hllegas said
The educational policy of state is
not decided by an individual nor by any |
group of individuals constituting a board I
| 1t is an outgrowth of the ambitions and 7
aspirations of those who constitute the /
citizenship of the state. My task on
this coca sion. therefore, is not to outline I
some new scheme of educational policy
but rather to give expression to the de-
sires and hopes, as | understand them, OF
parents and Others who are vitality in
terested in the welfare of our schools.
'ln every state there is a desire to
have the best schools possible. No state,
however, has been more willing to do
what it can toward the accomplishment
of this desirable end than has Vermont.
At the state office we have Just finished
compiling the educational statistics for
the past year. Brief references to these
will. serve to make clear the trend OF our
educational advancement.
ut is self evident that if children are
to profit by the influence OF the school
they must be in school. Five years ago
the average boy and girl in Vermont at
tended school total of l25 days during
the year. During the past school year
our boys and girls on an average at
tended l4l days, positive gain within
five years of 10 days, or more than three
scnool weeks. Not alone do we have
longer school year, but our parents in
general have not failed to cause their
children to attend. Out OF every 100
children between the ages of five and H.
SO were registered in our public schools
When we add to those in the public
schools the considerable number who at
tend private and parochial schools we
have reason to feel proud of the large
of those of school age who
are in attendance at some institution
ut is difficult to compare school at
tendance in Vermont with that of other
states. A large proportion of our school
population is found in rural sections,
sometimes remote from the schools Yer
mont has, nevertheless, always ranked
high as regards regularity of school at
For more than 10 years % out
# every 100 children who have been reg
stored in school have attended each day
When we consider the condition Of many
# our roads during part of the year, the
forms, and the difficulties involved in
ipu chiidrap IN cnhnn1 hoy
o congTa tulate ourselves This does
ot mean that we should relax our eff
orts to keep children in school but it
oes show that there is throughout the
tate a most wholesome attitude on the
art of parents and others toward the
Importance of the school This Judgment
n the part of our citizens represents a
cry tangible asset and no consideration
our educational policy should fail to
lention it.
This state, in common with others, is
to give the child in the coun- ma
" educational opportunities equal to Tn
nose found in the cities. To this end ST.
lie rural school is receiving marked at po
milton. Many of our country schools
ay boast OF splendid grounds OF proper pa
eating facilities and of good. wholesome, ha
nitsry conditions. These improvements N
I'VE not come by compulsion but they sp'
e largely the results of the interest cos
at citizens and school officials have th'
1t in che welfare of these schools We air
sy never hope to give children in the TO
untry the same school privileges that the
e city child enjoys. The country boy e
ID girl will probably never walk to OF
cir school on well-kept sidewalks. The =.
me cannot in many cases have these q
vs. and girls present for dinner. The Ger
raj school. however. may have certain Is
cided advantages over the city school. en-
Irents who by circumstances are forced ent
live in cities seldom fail to express re IN
ct that their children are deprived Of the
Q advantages coming from the freedom Gun
the country. There are many who ceI'
en- champion the old rural school one
ainst the more pretentious city schools nee
the present sch
1T is essential that whatever sdvan- are
yes the rural school possesses should be ~
ilized and that its disadvantages so hig
as they relate To comfortable and ent
.asant surroundings and adequate sho
lipment should be eliminated TO give ADJ
r country boys and girls an education sch'
nal TO that obtained in the best city g
FOOLS The people Of this state have drei