The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-01-08

nave been IOrceu 10 give 5Icdl ucdl
of time to the details OF organization.
They are now in position to render eff
fective service in assisting the teach
ers to improve instruction in the
school rooms. The Board recoHlr
mends that the provisions of the law
dealing iwth supervision remain UNI
altered. A
During the school year ending June
80, 1916, six junior high schools were
maintained in village and rural com.
munities. Several of these were To-
Gated in places poorly adapted to the
requirements of the new type OF
school There had not been sufficient
time to make the necessary changes
in course of study and methods of
teaching and as consequence these
schools were not so great success
as had been anticipated. At the be-
ginning of the present year care was
taken in approving the applications
for these schools. Suggestive courses
of study were formulated and two
day institute was held for the teach
ers. In order that the experiences
gained in starting and conducting
these schools might be made as help
full as possible to other communities
in this State the State Board of Edu-
cation has employed as supervisor OF
junior high schools one of the best
qualified persons in the country.
There are many indications that
these schools are meeting the educa-
tional needs of the communities in
which they exist and that consider
able number of boys and girls who
would not have attended high school
under the old plan have remained and
become interested and efficient stud
ents. A number of places have mani
tested their intention to establish
junior high schools in 1917. In or
der to equalize the expenses OF these
schools the State Board has contri-
buted $500 to each. Experience shows
that it is unwise to give the same
amount to each school irrespective OF
the additional expense incurred.
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.
Each normal school receives from
the State $4,000 per year. In addit-
ion No sc of the Acts of 1915 appro-
priated the sum of $4,000 annually to
be divided between Castleton and
Johnson "in such proportion and for
such purposes as shall be designated
by the Board of Education During
the school year 1856 the Board APP
propriated $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 s1,745.S5 to liquidate a
deficit already incurred in the pur-
carse of furniture and making of re-
pairs at the normal school" The
amounts thus appropriated to Castle
ton Normal School were not sufficient
to meet the necessary expenses. The
State Auditor reported on July l,
1916. a deficit for that school of S2700. |
The Budget Committee permitted the
State Board of Education to pay this
deficit out of the funds appropriated
for the maintenance of the Castleton
Normal School for the school year
1851. 1t will be possible to reduce
this deficit somewhat during this year
but there is still a necessity for an
extra appropriation of at least $4,000
to meet the deficit incurred during
the first year of the biennium. The
cost of repairs upon the Castleton
Normal School building is likely to
amount to $4,000 year for the next
biennium. The Johnson Normal
School will probably complete the
biennium free from debt. The cost
of summer schools in connection with
these institutions has never been an
item in the normal school appropria-
ton The State Board of Education
has appropriated from funds under
its control from $3.50 to $500 for each
of the summer schools. The increased
number of students. as well as the in
creased length of the summer ses-
sions, makes II necessary to provide a
definite appropriation for summer
school purposes. This sum should
not be less than $500 for each school.
The Board recommends that the sum
of 100000 per year be appropriated
to the normal schools. this to include
the cost of summer schools In these
institutions.
For the year ending June 30, 1916,
thirty-three teacher training classes
were conducted at cost of $685.
92123. Three hundred thirty stud
ents completed the teachers course
and the most Of these accepted posi-
tions in rural schools for the year
1861. The Board believes that the
number OF classes should be de-
creased in order to avoid competition
for students This can be done with
out materially diminishing the num-
Der Of students. 1t also deems 1t adj
yisable eventually to admit only high
school graduates to these classes.
During the school year ending June
30, 1916, the schools were in session
an average OF ITS days. This is an
increase of days over the preceding
year and Is days over 1910. Each cay
90 out of every100 pupils who We're
enrolled were present at the school.
This regularity indicates that truancy
or wilful neglect on the part OF par
ents is not widespread in Vermont,
yet both do exist and the administra-
ton Of the truancy laws Is very in
effective. A considerable number OF
otn;idra,, ,,.ho ara ronuirad nv law 10