The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-02

quence these schools were not so great {
success as had been anticipated. AT thu
beginning of the present year care wai
taken in approving the applications fol
these schools. Suggestive courses Of
study We're formulated and two-day
institute was held for the teachers. In
order that the experiences gained in
starting and conducting these schools
might be made as helpful as possible to
other communities in this state the state
board of education has employed as SUI
pervisor of junior high schools one of the
best qualified persons in the country
There are many indications that these
schools are meeting the educational needs
of the communities in which they exist
and that considerable number OF boys
| and girls who would not have attended
high school under the old plan have re-
manned and become interested and eff
! cient students. A number of places have
manifested their intention to establish
| Junior high schools in 1917. In order to
equalize the expenses of these schools the
state board has contributed $500 to each.
| Experience shows that it is unwise to
give the same amount to each school ir-
respective of the additional expense in
Cured. Some should receive more than
$500 and others less. The board recon-
mends that the present appropriation
for the assistance of Junior high schools
be increased from $4,000 to $4,000 per
year.
Normal School Needs.
Each normal school receives from the
state $4,000 per year. In addition No.
66 of the acts of 1915 appropriated the
sum of $4,000 annually to be divided be-
tween Castleton and johnson "in such
proportion and for such purposes as shall
be designated by the board of educa-
ton" During the school year l9l5-l6
the board appropriated $4,000 OF this
fund to Castleton and $4,000 to Johnson.
No. 266 of the acts of 1915 appropriated
to the normal school at Castleton the
sum of $l,745.s5 to liquidate deficit al
ready incurred in the purchase of furni-
ture and making of repairs at the nor
NAL school," The amounts thus appro-
priated to the Castleton Normal school
were not sufficient to meet the necessary
expenses. The state auditor reported on
July |, 1916, deficit for that school OF
$1,000. The budget committee permit
ted the state board of education to pay
this deficit out of the funds appropriated
for the maintenance of the Castleton
Normal school for the year l9l6-l7 1t
will be possible to reduce this deficit
somewhat during this year but there is
still a necessity for an extra approprla-
ton of at least $1,000 to meet the deficit
incurred during the first year OF the BIZ
ennium. The cost of repairs upon the
Castleton Normal school building is like
ly to amount to $4,000 a year for the !
next biennium. The johnson Normal
school will probably complete the bien-
Mum free from debt. The cost of sum |
mer schools in connection with these in |
stitutions has never been an item in the |
normal school appropriation. The state
board of education has appropriated from I
funds under its control from $3.50 to $500 |
for each of the summer schools The /
increased number of students, as well as
the increased length of the summer SEES
sions, makes it necessary to provide a
definite appropriation for the summer |
school purposes. This sum should not be
less than 81 800 for each school. The
board recommends that the sum of $780,
300 per year be appropriated to the nor
nal schools, this to include the cost of
summer schools in these institutions.
For the year ending June 80, 1916, 80
teacher training classes were conducted
1T a cost of S33,92l23. Three hundred
thirty students completed the teachers
curse and the most of these accepted
in rural schools for the year
IL LII
number of classes should be decreased in |
rider to avoid competition for students.
This can be done without materially di-
the number of students 1t \
lso deems it advisable eventually to ad-
nit only high school graduates to these
lasses.
Truancy.
During the school year ending June 80,
GIG, the schools were in session an aver
ge of IT'S days. This is an increase of
tx days over the preceding year and Is H
ays over 1910. Each day 90 out of
very 100 pupils who Were enrolled were H
resent at the school, This regularity \
indicates that truancy or willful neglect
n the part of parents is not widespread l
n Vermont, yet both do exist and the
administration of the truancy laws is
cry ineffective. A considerable number Il n
+ children who are required by law to II
e i'll school do not enter school. Many III
eachers do not have confidence in the N
rillingness of local officers to enforce the III
tendance laws and so do not report III
lses of unlawful absence. That they HI
re justified in their belief is shown by III
he fact that for 1916 only la arrests
,llowed l0,399 complaints. There is
eed of more strict enforcement of the III
tendance laws and more careful CEN III
rs of school children. The board recon- III
lends that teachers, principals and SUI III
erintendents be required to report tru- III
ncy cases to the commissioner of edu- III
ltion and that the execution of the laws HI
, given to competent parole officers. HI
Section III of No. "a of the acts of HI
Us provides that after the state board MI
education has paid the expenses of MI
snersl administration, the salaries of Hi
lperintendents and training class sach- Hi
s, the expenses of summer schools and Hi
Iucational meetings, transportation and III
,ard, and rebates to towns employing Hi
aimed teachers, the balance of the III
hool fund shall be eat the disposal of III
e state board of education for the pur- III
'se of aiding rural schools of the state iii
ID for the purpose of equalizing educa- III
onal opportunities and advantages" iii
he sum available for this purpose on All
lly 1910 WAS SQ3 OOG 01 The hoard Till