Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1916-04-14
MISSIONER HILLEGAS MAKES
STATEMENT,
New Educational Head Outlines
Views on Vermont Education,

with DR., Milo B, Hilegas has. been
secured for our columns. The state
ment is Of great interest and import.
ance, as indicating the regard in which
the new Commissioner is held in his
present position as well as his attitude
toward his new work,
Mr. 0rmsbee's communication is as
follows;
CDR, Milo =. Hillegas, the newly ap
pointed Commissioner of Education, is a
very busy man as associate professor Of
education at Teachers College, Columbia
University. However not being un-
acquainted with the schools of Vermont,
he has begun to lay his plans for his
Vermont work to begin next July, and
he recently found time to talk about
them for the Register.
at was Friday afternoon and lacked
little Of three O'Clock, the hour set by
Dr. Hilegas to listen to and advise his
students. The little oilice-study was
well filled with callers, some sitting in
the bent wood chairs. others upon the
large oak table, and others standing,
since the capacity Of the chairs and
table left no alternative. However, the
standing room only condition seemed
to make but little difference to the
assembled company. All of which from
the squatty little lowaan school marm'
to the raw-boned and 'R'-less South
Carolnian, were busy talking Of but one
thing, DIR. Hilegas' appointment to
the Commssionership of Education of
Vermont. All seemed of the same mind,
the consensus being that Vermont has
chosen wisely and that her educational
future will be ably directed. But, as
was said by the little lowaan, whose
gray hair and every manner proved be-
yond doubt that she had already seen
not few years of active pedagogical
service, why couldn't they have picked
any other man than Dr. Hillegas He
is the one that Teachers College can
least afford to lose from its faculty
Hardly had these words been spoken
when the door opened, and smiling an
unmistakably cordial Good afternoon
to all, DR.. Hillegas walked in He is a
thick set, muscular man about five feet
eight.nches tall. His hair, close cropped
and beginning to be bit grizzled, offers
an especially fitting background for his
slightly weather. tanned but highly ex-
pressive and sincere face.
Zone after another the students, all
of them st-graduates specializing in
educational subjects, were attended to,
their troubles heard and advice given,
always with genuine interest and mas
terly comprehension of what was to be
done. Then, when the last one had dis
DR.. Hillegas settled himself
back in the swivel chair before his roll
top desk and began to talk about his
new work.
" 1 go to Vermont" commenced the
Commissioner elect, firmly believing
that no State similarly situated has any
more promising educational future be-
fore it. Vermont has had its period of
critical examination and is now ready
to enter upon constructive era, both
and in some respects radi-
,al. Also, Vermont has an exception
ally high grade of teachers, which to-
yether with the present statewide desire
or improvement, | am sure, will IN
hort order eliminate any weak spots
hat now exist In the matter of ele-
nentary schools and school teaching,
ave long since known that taking them
throughout the State there is not
ingle one of the really big modern de-
elopments that is not being given
rial somewhere.
Speaking about the curriculum DR..
1illegas continued, 1T is not going to
e my policy to make any radical changes
t first but rather to build up a uniform
curse of study for the elementary and
econdary schools which will be capable
f adaptation according to the condi-
ions of particular school, With this
rame work and by means of the super
ntendents of the various union school
istricts, | hope in due time to have the
tandard of the backward rural or dis
rict schools upon par with the best
not but what there already
re quite few excellent rural schools.
"'On the other hand hope to see the
lnior high schools multiply so that for
he first two years no boy or girl need
o so far that he or she can not live at
ONE. | feel that it is not advis-
BILE for them to be away from the
ONE influence so early as this. AS for
hose who wish to continue the high
chool work, why they are older and
etter fitted to go to some neighboring
own which offers the complete course.
after outlining this plan of increas-
,U the numhar of iunior hiuh anhoOla |