The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-04-04
NOT TO CONTINUE
NORMAL SCHOOLS
House Rejects Bill to Pro-
tect Institutions
Mentioned
BITTER ATTACK ON
EDUCATION HEAD
Policy of One Centrar School Endorsed
by Vote of los TO 66--Water Power
Conservation Bill Killed by House
Nearing Adjournment.

MONTPELIER, April AIN the face
OF a bitter and violent attack on the com
missioner and the state board of educa-
ton, the house yesterday afternoon re-
iected H. $50, providing for the continu-
ance OF the normal schools in Castleton
and johnson, by vote Of l05 to g. Mr.. |
Tracy of Johnson defended the bill in
two characteristic speeches, in which
he declared that if the legislature had a
chance it would abolish the state board of
education, which had raised standards so
high that the poor girl in calico dress"
could not be admitted to the normal
schools
This. was after Mr. Austin of Reading
had submitted figures showing that the
number Of pupils at the johnson school
was 100 in 1915, CO in 1916. 81 in 1917
and % in 1918 and that tile expense of
graduating pupils in 1913 was $l,73l per
pupil at johnson and 1919 per pupil at
Castleton.
THE policy of the state board of edu-
cation,' said the gentleman from John
son, is driving our girls into mills and
factories because they can't, get into our
normal schools and be trained as teach
crs. This is a rural state and your girls
and mine don't want to go 10 Burlington
and Rutland for their training They
won't walk the streets in their calico
dresses. The time is coming when Yer
mont will say that we don't want for
cigner to run our schools"
Mr. Writers of st. Johnsbury who fol-
lowed "the wild man from Lamoille,
said the latter was adopting the tactics
OF the criminal court and was attempt
ing to try some one else rather than the
question at issue The fact is, contin
ued Mr. Writers, that the poor girl car
get teachers training at the high schools
and academies, and such training cost
the state SIP per pupil, not $l,73I. Tn,
rejection of this bill does not abolish thu
normal school system 1t merely leaves
it with the board of education to estab
lisf such normal schools as may ice bes
fitted to train teachers instead OF bein
compelled to continue the schools a
johnson and Castleton."
Mr.. Estee of Montpelier advocated
central normal school, Mr.. Belknap {
Rockingham urged the members to "pu
ldllli III 1OQ anu tie SlGle DOdlu OF eQl
cation" Mr.. Williams of Proctor fl
vored the continuance to August 1921,
did Mr. Mcfarland of Hyde Park an
Mr.. Dyer of Salisbury.
\ new bill was introduced by unan
nous consent in the house by Mr.. Buttl,
of Brandon. 1t would permit Rutlan
county TO build u county Jail in case Il
house of correction is otherwise dispose
Of
Mr.. Child Of Weybridgc presided du
ing large part of the afternoon sessic
in the house and adjournment was take
until 40 pm.
The debate ON S. l07, fixing penalti
Tor prostitution, continued into the afte
noon and the house finally refused to I
jeet the bill, 1870 to 10. and it was order,
to "A third reading after its most drast
features had been somewhat modifie
The house also adopted joint rcsolutit
thanking Miss katherine B Viles for t
gift of the property adjoining the sta
capitol property to the north, which W
recently accepted by Governor Cleme
on behalf of the state.
The senate ran at railroad speed VI
terday afternoon, disposing Of all it's thi
readings and then beginning at the top
the calendar and passing the measures
advanced. The following were passed:
II. 100 tamended). relating to class
cation Of forest lands;
IT. 245 (amendcdl establishing OPP