The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-01-16
BETTER SCHOOLS
FOR RURAL REGIONS
The Only Way 10 Bring About the I'M
provement Is to Have Better
Teachers, Expert Says.

by J. L. McBrien, school extension
agent L. :. bureau of education, de-
partmcut of the interior.)
With the eloquent and logical plea
Of J. Sterling Morton for professionally
trained teachers still ringing in our
ears, it is good time to consider the
views of a prominent man who saw
this question in very different light.
This man served his state and country
in many posts of honor. He was a
man Of means. His character was
above reproach. Ii is hard to under
stand how n man of such ability, integ-
rity and experience could hold such er-
roncus views rs he did on the prepare
tion Of teachers for their work. After
all the positions of honor he had held,
he was elected member of the state
senate. There was but one state nor
NAL school then (19Ol) in that state
A fight was on in the legislature to es-
tahlish one additional state normal
school. on which occasion this nestor
of the senate declared: "God AL
mighty makes teachers; you can no
more make teachers At a normal school
than you can make whistles out of pigs
tails at n butcher shop; we have too
much education of the head already;
educate the heels
This is SO utterly absurd as to merit
pity rather than censure of him who was
the author Of this declaration. God Al
mighty no more makes teachers than
J." makes lawyers or doctors. Training
and experience make q lawyer. Train
ing and experience make doctor.
Training and experience make n teach
Cr.
And SO thought the people of the
state in which this good, though mis-
taken, man lived. The normal school
idea has made such q growth in that
state since this good man : declaration
against il that now there are four nor
nal schools there, with splendid facul-
ties and literally supported by the
state.
Probably the most advanced opinion
yet advocated 10y any man of promi.
hence today in favor of professionally
trained teachers and state normal
schools Is that Of the United States
commissioner of education, DR.. i. 2.
ClaXtou. Briefly stated, il is this:
\ six months term Of school with
a professionally trained teacher at
salary of 500 per month is longer
term and a better and cheaper school
than y months term with "A teacher
of poor scholarship and no professional
training at salary of $50 per month.
We need enough state normal schools to
provide professionally trained teach
er for every rural school in America.
The people of the entire state are taxed
60 support the state normal school oil
SCHOOLS and are, therefore, entitled 10
their Just share Of the teachers who fit
themselves for their work in these
hools And yet "a very small number
off normal school graduates ever teach
i'm thc rural schools, because the city
and town schools secure these profes-
slonally trained teachers. The demand
for professionally trained teachers i'm
city and town schools is greater than
the present number OF our state normal
schools can supply under present equip
m"ut. We. therefore, need a greatly in
creased numbcr of normal schools or
else great increase i'm building, fac
ulty and funds for our present state
normal schools, it our rural people are
TO receive fair treatment for the faxes
they PAY for the support of the state
normal schools. The work of the state
normal schools aud professionally
trained teachers is so important, so val.