Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-20
COMMISSIONER HILLEGAS
MAKES STATEMENT.
The New Educational Head Outlines His
Views on Vermont Education.
N'rom the Middlehnrv ReglsterN

G'rom the Addlebury RegisterD
Through the enterprise of a warm friend
of the REGISTER, Mr. Thomas II. OrmS3ee,
of Brooklyn. an interview with DR.. Milo
y. llilcgas has been secured for our
columns. The statement is of great inter-
est and Importance as indicating the re-
held in his present position as well as his
attitude toward his new work
Mr.. Ornsbee's communication is as fol-
lows:
DIR. Milo +. ITillegas, the newly APP
pointed commissioner of education, is
very busy man as associate professor Of
education at Teachers College Columbia
University. However, not being unac-
qrainted with the schools of Vermont. he
has begun to lay his plans for his Ver-
mont work TO begin next July, and he
recently found time to talk about them
for the Register.
ut was Friday afternoon and lacked
little of three o'cloCk-the hour set by
DIR. Hillcgas to listen to and advise his
students The little ofiice-study was well
filed with callers, some sitting in the
bent wood chairs. others upon the large
oak table, and others standing. since the
alternative. However the standing room
only condition seemed to make but lit
tie difference to the assembled company.
All of which from the squattv little
Iowaan school-marm' to the raw-boned
and 'R'-less South Carolnian. We're busy
talking Of but one thing-Dr. Hillegas' an
pontment to the commissioners hin of ed
ucation Of. Vermont. All seemed of the
mi,
mont has chosen wisely and that her cd
vocational future will he ably directed.
But, was said by the little Iowaan.
whose gray hair and every manner proved
beyond doubt that she had already seen
not a few years Of active pedag ogical ser
vice. Why couldn't they have picked any
other man than DIR. Hillegas. He is the
one that Teachers College can least af-
ford to lose from it's faculty.
Hardly had these words been spoken
when the door opened and smiling an un-
mistakably cordial Good afternoon to
all, DR. Ililegas walked in. He is
thick set. muscular man about five feet
eight inches tall His hair, close cropped
and beginning to be bit CrizZled, offers
an especially fitting background for his
slightly weathcr-tanncd but highly ex-
rressive and sincere face.
one after another the students, all of
them post-graduates specializing in ed
vocational subjects, were attended to. their
troubles heard and advice given, always
with genuine interest and mastery COM
prehension of what was to be done, Then,
when the last one had disappeared, DR..
1Iilegas settled himself back in the swivel
chair before his roll-top desk and began
To talk about his new work.
81 20 to Vermont commenced the
commssionerclect. firmly believing that
no safe similarly situated has any more
promising educational future before it.
Vermont has had its period of critical
examination and is now ready 10 enter
upon n constructive era, both broad
minded and in some respects radical.
Also, Vermont has an exceptionally high
%cade of teachers, which together with
the present Statewide desire for I'M
provement, am sure will in short orde:
eliminate any weak spots that now exist
In the matter Of elementary schools and
school teaching 7 have long since known
that taking them throughout the stat
there is not single one Of the really
lig modern developments that is not be-
ing given n trial somewhere
Speaking about the curriculum Dr.
Iillegas continued. 1t is not going to be
my policy to mokc any radical changes
at first hut rather to build up a uniform
course Of study for the elementary and
secondary schools which will be capable
of adaptation according to the conditions
of n particular school. With this frame
work and by means of the superintend-
ents Of the various union school dis
trcts. hope in due time to have the