The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-12-28
MAY DISCONTINUE
RANDOLPH "AGGfE'

RANDOLPH "AGGiE'
Trustees Consider the Proposal II
Their Annual Report Just Mad,
Public.
4 Randolph, Dec i6-Thc question 81
what course the State OF Vermont
should pursue in regard to agricultural
education may wen become prime
Itopir for legislative debate rs the re-
result Of the report of the trustees 81
the state schools Of agriculture JUS.
made public. The trustees, Com. Ebert
y Brigham, jos. i. Hills, r. N. Vail.
A. N, Vaughan and George T. Chaifoe.
IN effect ask the legislature to de-
ttrmine on definite policy, and the
determination Of a policy involves a
consideration Of whether or not the
State not only shall not build addition
.al agricultural schools, but whether Il
snail abolish one Of the schools which
it now has.
The State at present maintains two
schools Of agriculture, one at Ran.
dolph Center and the Theodore N. Vail
school at Lyndon Center, the gift of
Mr.. Vail. The inventory of the prop
erty at Randolph shows a valuation OF
$4,000, with the use of other build
ings not owned by the state, estimated
to be worth $4,000. The inventory Of
the Vail school shows a valuation of
$279957, The school at Randolph can
be given up with loss of only few
thousand dollars, while the abandon
ment Of the institution at Lyndon
would mean that the entire property
would be lost to the State.
The trustees, in urging legislative
determination of an agricultural
school policy, say they believe chat
the State should provide facilities for
every student who wishes to obtain in
5truction Of the type offered by these
schools, because the future of Yer
mont depends very largely upon the
success of its agricultural develop
nent. An agricultural school
With which is connected a well equip
bed and well managed farm, with
system of crops and livestock so
planned that reasonable income can
,e realized, possesses great POSSIBLE
ties" But, the report says later,
this laudable aim cannot be adequate
y accomplished with a meagerly
quipped plant
The trustees, in dealing with the
wo schools, say that in order that the
randolph school be put in a condition
o give the proper kind Of instruction
0 its students an outlay of $4,000 {
ill be required, with $4,000 year
or maintenance, while in the case of I
he Vail school, 5000 will be needed 8
. remodel buildings, ETC., when the
all residence is turned over to the
tate, not an immediate expenditure,
18th 100000 a year for maintenance.
.mong the items needed at once at
is dormitory, the estimat-
4 cost of which is $4,000, or more
IAN the whole plant is worth, as COM
AIRED with the value Of the Vail
,hool at $279,957. More land is need
| at Randolph, at present there being
ven no pasturage for the cows. .
The trustees ask for consideration
whether it is necessary to maintain
vo agricultural schools in Vermont.
he report points out that the maxi
UNI attendance in the two schools in !,
,15-16 was 1853, while ut is the opin-
n of experts in secondary agricultur- .
education that 200 students may be .
fectively taught in secondary ,
hool." Continuing the report says, y
If we grant the validity Of this opin- y
n, Vermont does not now need two y
hools,' but also saying that there is y
e possibility Of larger future attend =
ice. :,
AS TO the future attendance the re- I
rt points out that there are certain !,
velopments which initiate against .
ture need of two schools, pointing y
the increase of the number Of high y
hools that now teach agriculture. 1t
set forth that at should be remem- .
red that agricultural courses are "
W being offered in at least 20 high y
hools and that the state is appropri !.
ing several thousand annually for :.
e support Of this work" .
The trustees declare that "they are /.
edibly informed that the establish y
mt Of such courses in Wisconsin "
gh schools has led TO the abandon "
IN of one Of the special state agri- "
ltural schools because Of lack of at "
1dance. If this experience is dupli "
ted in Vermont, if agricultural in = !.
-uction can be had near at hand, we !. !.
IN not expect greatly increased at =.
1dance at our state agricultural q.
ooole Tho theory of agriculture A.