The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-03-01

Vermont can we'll. afford to reduce eS-
lnenses u many Mays before it cuts down
the essential training which undeflics its
Ichiefest industry. Any slip-shod irnper-
ject education Is worse than none and the
youth need not 20 to school to get it.
II you intend to educate the youth in the
best Agricultural methods you must have
the best possible school. Two poor ones
are worse than none, and one poor poor
one Is worse than nome for it ruins by
false training the man power of the /
future; that is crime. Much better let |
the youth pick up his education III the
ordinary way than allow him to spend /,
his best formatiye years III learning half !.
|way methods and bad working habits.
& If yon cannot have two agricultural
schools, have one, and if you cannot have
that OF the best, don't have any. The
state has had its experience in normal
schools. Don't repeat it in agricultural
training.
| The agricultural school at Lyndon was
started for the purpose of demonstrating
1.-THE advantage of such a school, Fnndav
mental education is the province OF the
| state 1t was never my intention to carry
ION this school beyond the demonstration
Iof either its usefulness or uselessness. 1t
hwas never my intention to run in compe-
tition with the state. 1t was only to
pioneer and show the advantage, if any
/ When Vermont established a second
/ agricultural school, it was assumed that
the state had done 50 because that ad-
vantage had been established, and not
to square a local political difficulty
| The gift of the Lyndon property was
made to tue state supposing that the
Idea had become established, but Oh the
condition that unless it was continued
on the same lines, the property should
60 to the Lyndon institute, where we
Iare trying to establish for the girls a sys-
TEN OF education for rural life.
4 If Vermont cannot make sufficiently
liberal appropriation To establish the two
i agricultural schools, but is willing TO
make it for one, and that one because
lof local interests must be established at
! Randolph, by all means let that be done.
s There is no need for two schools at
present, but il properly carried on, there
. Twill be need for many, there could hardly
: be too many.
Let the alternative course be pursued
: and the property go to the Lyndon insti
tue and be devoted to its permanent es
|, Enlistment. II this. is done, the state
: should also appropriate $4,000 to make
:, good the. property, at least to cover til,
! depreciation Of the property since tho
state took charge Certainly it would
:. take that amount to put it all back il
!. the condition that it was when the STATE
: took it. As this would go to Vermont
education Vermont would be the gamer
: As to my personal feelings to which
: lyon were Kind enough to refer, while
: shall be disappointil. / want it distinct
$ IL understood that | would rather Sc,
: the property gradually sink to the con
dition of some of the so-called abandoned
farms, for which better term would b
:, neglected farms of shiftiess proprietors
than to have it carried on in any half
!. hearted, halfway manner. | would rath
= er see those side hill properties Gale,
Walls Folly" than TO see the youth o
Vermont going year after year to an in
! stitution which fell short Of what
!, should do fer them and fasten ON to thos
. youths the habits Of work and of thinkin
:. that would be enough to make thef
:. wanting in all that makes for success.
II No matter how good may be the IL
= tentions or desires of the edueations
: commissioners or Of any superintendent
: OF education or Of the school system
= school cannot be made without generot
!. support Sufficient to meet the purpose
= for which it was intended.
I I am enclosing q couple of leaflets whie
!. will give some OF my ideas on education
. kind expressions about this matter, T. an
VERY Sincerely Yours,
= :, isignedl THE0. = VAIL.
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