St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-10-18


lions for the new form of certificate.
Since July 1 two out of every three
teachers in our state have applied FOR
the new form Of certificate. The new
regulations leave considerable dis
cretionary power with the commits
sioner. At first it seemed that IL
would be necessary to make excep-
tions to meet individual cases. When
1 saw the sacrifices, however, that
many of our teachers were making i'll
order to comply with the new regula-
tiOns 1 was convinced that justice to
them as well as to the schools re-
quired that all be treated alike. I
am therefore able to say at this time
that no exception has been made IN
the certihcation of any teacher within
this state. If any teacher has been
disappointed in not receiving as high
a grade of certificate as she desired
there is this consolation; no other
teacher with like qualifications has
received any higher grade of certih-
cate. Many who applied for one
certificate have been surprised to find
that their qualifications entitled them
to higher grade than the one which
they expected.
Large Summer Schools.
The teachers have on their parl
responded to the newer demands CT
the state in a truly gratifying manner
During the past summer one out Oh
every three of our teachers attended
at least three weeks of summer
school. A large number of them
took full six weeks courses at col
leges and universities. Inquiry
among school officers leads me to be-
lieve that this is a record not ap-
preached in any other state in the
Union. 1t was inevitable that among
so large a group of persons, whether
they belonged to the teaching pro-
fession or any other, there should he
some ''time-servers.' These need
cause us little concern because they
will soon find themselves outclassel
in honest competition in good teach
ing. It is significant that the inStruc-
tors under whom these teachers
worked during the past summer have
almost without exception commented
on the sincerity and ability of those
who came into their classes. With
the rise of this professional spirit
among the teaching force of our state
there comes the necessity of providing
through summer schools or otherwise
the type of instruction that will be
most helpful to the teacher and con-
sequently most helpful to the educa-
tional interests of the state.
Teachers Training.
During the past few years there
have been determined efforts to place
trained teacher in each school in
this state. For this purpose the state
-
schools and training classes within
been in operation long enough to be-
gin to show some of the results.
During the school year 1915-16 the
state office issued 68 teaching permits.
This indicates that in at least So cases
school officials could not obtain prop
erly qualified teachers. This, 1 am
reliably informed, is the smallest
number of permits issued during any
year prior to that date. Thus fan
this year two permits have been 49,
sued. 1t would have been possible ilI
each of these cases to have secured
trained teachers had it not been nee.
esSary to open school at once. We
can therefore claim that except in two
schools in this state there are either
teachers who have received at least
one year of training or those who
have had more than one year of ex-
perience in teaching. The very sue
cess of this policy must lead us 20
some serious considerations regarding
the training of teachers. We are fast
approaching the time when a person
with inferior preparation cannot hope
to receive a teaching position within
this state. Probably this year as
never before, school officials have ex-
amined the professional qualifications
of teachers prior to their employ
ment. 1t will soon be a question
whether our girls who have not COM
pleted the high school course should
enter the training classes. This Is
not a problem for the state as much
as it is for the individual. During
the past year several promising young
women have found that the way to
college has suddenly opened but that
they are debarred from entering these
institutions because they have had
only three years of high school work
having taken their fourth year in a
training class. We should nowhere
in our educational system allow stu
dents to enter blind alleys or tc
take such courses as will require
them to retrace steps if they wish 20
enter other fields later on. The best
advice that can be given to any young
lady within our state is to secure
high school education before begin.
ming her professional work
Vocational Education for Girls.
Enough has been said to show thai
the problems connected with teach
ers' training in this state are gradual
ly changing. We need the services of
well-trained teachers, and such are
sure to receive adequate reward for
their work Our responsibility, how
ever, for the training of teachers does
not end with the supplying of our own
needs. The most recent census report
shows that in Vermont there were at
least 26 trades and occupations en-
ploying more than 1000 men. Our
boys, therefore, have considerable
choice in the work that they shall
take up when they leave the school.
On the other hand apart from the po-
sition of domestic servant there were
but three occupations employing 1000