Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-03-20
c HAM ES co MING IN
VERMONT HIGH SCHOOLS
Study of Problems of Citizenship
and More Attention to Physi-
cal Training Are Needs of the
Hour, Declares Commissioner
of Education Hillegas

Perkins gave few words of welcome
and "reminiscences on teaching days. and
then introduced Prln. Il. S. Abbott OF
Rutland. supervisor of the high schools
of Vermont. Mr.. Abbott gave his obscr-
vations on the curricula in the Vernon
high schools. He said that Throughout
the schools he had found that the teach
ing OF English seemed to be choppy ana
he Thought that science should be laugh
in general way instead OF as cot
lege preparatory subject. lie also EN-
phasizcd the importance Of putting an
cient history in some year other than
the first. In regard to home econofnice
ne said he thought course In HON
accounting should be taught with th'
course and that the boys, too. should
know something of how to portion o.
money in running a home.
THE schools of Vermont" said ~;
Abbott "are either very far behind ~
very far in advance, ] haven't decided
which" He especially assailed the
courses in bookkeeping. saying they were
taken from the business colleges which
designed them for abnormal boys and
girls and so they were useless in teach
ing normal children. He said he was
wondering IL people weren't deluding
themselves and fooling the children by
calling the subjects commercial this or
Industrial that and IL they really were
different from similar subjects which
did not have that prefix. He said II
girls did take commercial subjects they
should be taught in less time and then
the extra time given to home economics
He emphasized the need for civic educa-
tion and especially along the line of
al, pv,;x tID had
taught us much in that direction. Also
he thought social science and hygiene
should be taught more thoroughly.
"Onc thing we should do MORE said
Mr.. Abbott. "is to teach our pupils to
appreciate the good things in life. The
weak spot in Vermont is the lack of ap-
probation of music throughout the
State. We should have more community
singing.
AS far as character training is con-
cerned l think our Vermont schools
have succeeded well But l don't think
we should introduce instruction in ethics.
The personality, character and example
of the teacher will do more to develop
the character Of pupil than telling
him what not to do. The professional
spirit in the State among teachers also
is good. The teachers are not so anxious
for personal advancement that they for
get the children. IT Ia n mistake to try
| to carry on the two teacher high school
though, or the three teacher school
| where commercial subjects are taught
i for the result is to drive the boy OF girl
away from the community"
In summing up. he said that the method
of teaching commercial subjects should
| be changed, ancient history should be
put in some year other than the first
| and decision should be reached on
what should be done with the two teacher
high school.
In the discussion that followed it was
suggested to replace ancient history in
| the first year with community civics or
current history, to introduce setting UP
exercises for boys and calisthenics for
| girls in the schools and TO send a
teacher in every school to summer school
80 she could direct that sort of work
| Following the discussion, Commissioner
Milo B. Hillegas gave paper on Ten
denotes in Secondary Education" He
said. in part:
TENDENCIES IN SECONDARY EDU
CATION
81 have been invited to speak OF
| Tendencies in Secondary Education
shall. therefore. attempt to predict wha
will come to pass in our high schools Il
the agencies and influences that are nov
recognized continue to operate. l shall
not attempt to justify nor to criticize thu
probable solution OF the problems tina
now confront U.S.
THE fundamental proposition that
desire to present in reference to the sub
taot hnPp to hn. ic ;lya1., 70 n.
no marked change In the aims and IDEAL
of secondary education. Such changes a
come to pass will be in connection will
changed emphasis upon various subject
and changed methods Of instruction. Tn
war has brought about most peculia
condition of affairs as regards publi
education. The earliest history Of educa
ton indicates a wealth of criticism
directed against the subject matter an,
methods of the schools AS coon as
generation has passed beyond the drec
influence Of the school, it finds counties
defects in the education of its youth. II
its Judgment there IL lack of thorough
ness that existed in the schools of it
time. Children lack sincerity, the abilit
to do the things that were acquire
earlier and there is general let-down a
along the line. 1t is significant tina
the generation most severely criticize
has in more instances than one con
tanned those who in adult life accom-
plished results beyond the imaginatio
of the critics OF their education.
Criticism of public education ha
seldom been more severe and causti
than that directed against our school
prior to the war. Complaints We're nc
directed against any one subject, nethe
were they confined to methods. Nor
important sill there was no agreemen
among the critics. consequently ever
school man found himself always With
the range of fire.
THE experiences of the past two year
have served to overthrow many of on
previous conceptions. There have bee
those who expressed the opinion tina
boys. taught so largely by women. woul
Of necessity become effeminate and tina
real manhood would tend to disappear
During the past week many of us hay
heard some Of the facts regarding tn
conduct of our own Yankee Division.
is worth remembering that comparative
ly few Of these men ever had the benef
of association with male teachers II
reported that when the former Germa
Kaiser learned of our system of dsciplin
in the public schools, he remarked this
Germany need never fear an army {
individuals who had been so poorly dis
ciplined in their school days Yet tn
same German officers who felt such cor
tempt for our public school system, al
to-day saluting under compulsion tn
men who were trained in these schools
There Is wealth of subject matte