The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-05-24

| Lyndonville and the State School of
| Agriculture at Randolph Center.
| Some of these differences are due
| to the conditions surrounding the
| two schools. Others represent diff
| ferences in policy. The deed of gift
of the Theodore N. Vail Agricultural
| School definitely fixes the entrance
| requirements at that institution. The
important question concerning the
boys entrance at this school is not
what education he possesses but
what opportunity there is for the
school to be of service to him. There
are, therefore. no limitations as re-
CARDS age or experience.
At Randolph, on the other hand, it
is desirable to make rather definite
entrance requirements and to insist
. upon at least the equivalent of gram
mar school graduation as a minimum
entrance requirement. It has always
been customary for this school to re-
ceive a considerable number OF
graduates from approved high schools.
The wsrk must, therefore, be suited
tor the ability of these more ad-
vanced students.
A second difference is indicated in
the possibility of self-support at
~
Vail school it is possible for any Yer
mont boy to earn all of his expenses.
For this purpose the school is organ
lied in the same manner as the part
time basis in the industries. One
week in four the boy works for wages
,, on the farm and in addition has the
opportunity to work for wages at
times when he is not receiving in
Struction.
, At the State School of Agriculture
at Randolph, on the other hand, the
State Board of Education cannot
! promise to prospective students the
; opportunity to earn any large part
, of their expenses. This is due TO
the size of the farm and the lack OF
labor needs. Even though boys are
8 able to secure work on adjacent
: farms there is no advantage that
0 comes from such service other than
the financial one because the boys
n cannet be under direct supervision.
A third difference is found in the
type of instruction. Both schools
aim at preparation for Vermont
. farming. The course of study at the
Z State School of Agriculture at Ran
e dolph Center requires at least one
j half of the boys time for practica
q work. The other half is devoted tt
/ systematic study of science anC
e kindred subjects related to agri
culture.
:. At the Theodore n. Vail School o
: Agriculture the entire course is de
. voted to farming. The sciences ant
), mathematics are treated when thu
= occasion arises in connection witt
=, | actual farm practice
In other words, at Randolph tex
- books are a necessity. At the Val
school at Lyndonville. they are a las
resort.
!, The Theodore n. Vail Agriculture
n School has not undertaken to dea
If with specialties in agriculture. Near
;, ly all the boys who enter this institu
n ton come with the definite intention
n of returning to general farming.
e At the State Agricultural School a
u Randolph there has been some de
# gree of specialization. Boys hav,
n been trained to become COW tester
g and farm managers and at presen
g. the school has undertaken to trail
IL some young men to become cream
of cry managers.
to Doubtless the greatest evidenc
$, that these are not competing institu
" tons is to be found in the fact tina
e. neither is a local institution. Their
re ara in attendance at each institutio
boys from various sections of tn
to State and it is often possible to fin
at students from the same town in a
IL tendance at both of the schools.
he Recommendations.
IL Bearing in mind the great impol
le- lance of agriculture in the State an
e. the necessity for agricultural trair
ing and also in view of the fact thu
the State has very large and yer
vol valuable property interests and
VS. large amount of capital already il
ed vested in these two agricultur;
re schools, your committee respectful
Is, make the following recommends
ay tipns:
re That the Theodore n. Vail Ayr
nd cultural School and Farms at Lyndon
vile and the Vermont State Ayr
nd cultural School at Randolph Cent,
'3V be retained as State Schools of A,
TO riculture on the basis of their T
,or spective appropriations and that Il
lat continued maintenance of thes
he schools shall be made a settle
Ike State policy.
he That the direct management of IL
Die / Theodore N. Vail Agricuitur
its School and Farms at Lyndonville an
he the Vermont State School of Ayr
Is culture at Randolph Center be veste
in the State Board Of Education ar
-u- that said Board be authorized to il
IN stitute system of bookkeeping ar
lr- accounting that shall be in harmon
he with the deed of gift so far as Il
ity Theodore N. Vail Agricultural Soho
* and Farms is concerned and also
accord with the business and educ;
ass tional policies of both institutions.
MT. The State Board of Education
MS. urged to proceed upon a systemat
policy of publicity in connection wit
IN the Theodore n. Vail Agricultur
le- School and Farms at Lyndonville al
nd the Vermont State Agricultural Soho
he at Randolph Center, whereby the ed
nd cational opportunities and aims