The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-05-20


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, IL
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. 1t has always
been customary for this school to re-
ceive considerable number OF
graduates from approved high schools.
The work must therefore, be suited
to Ito ability of these more ad-
vanced students.
A second difference is indicated in
the possibility of self-support at
these schools. At the Theodore N.
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, tho
State Board of Education cannot
promise to prospective students the
opportunity to earn any large part
of their expenses. This is due tn
the size of the farm and the lack OF
labor needs. Even though boys are
able to secure work on adjacent
farms there is no advantage that
comes from such service other than
the financial one because the boys
cannot 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
State School of Agriculture at Ran
dolph Center requires at least one
half of the boys time for practical
work. The other half is devoted to
a systematic study OF science and
kindred subjects related to agri-
culture
AT the Theodore N. Vail School OF
Agriculture the entire course is de-
voted to farming. The sciences and
mathematics are treated when the
occasion arises in connection with
actual farm practice.
In other words, at Randolph text
books are a necessity. AT the Vail
school at Lyndonville, they are last
resort.
The Theodore N. Vail Agricultural
School has not undertaken to deal
with specialties in agriculture. Near
ly all the boys who enter this institu-
ton come with the definite intention
of returning to general farming
At the State Agricultural School at
Randolph there has been some de-
gree of specialization. Boys have
been trained to become COW testers
and farm managers and at present
the school has undertaken to train
some young men to become cream
cry managers.
| Doubtless the greatest evidence
that these are not competing institu-
tions is to be found in the fact that
neither is local institution. There
are in attendance at each institution
! boys from various sections of the
State and it is often possible to find
students from the same town in at
tendance at both of the schools.
Recommendations. r
Bearing in mind the great impor-
lance of agriculture in the State and
the necessity for agricultural train
ing and also in view of the fact that
the State has very large and very
valuable property interests and
large amount of capital already in
vested in these two agricultural
schools, your committee respectfully
make the following recommends
tons:
That the Theodore N. Vail Agri-
cultural School and Farms at Lyndon
vile and the Vermont State Agri
cultural School at Randolph Center
be retained as State Schools of Ag-
riculture on the basis of their re-
spective appropriations and that the
continued maintenance of these
schools shall be made a settled
State policy.
That the direct management of the
School and Farms at Lyndonville and
the Vermont State School of ,Agri-
culture at Randolph Center be vested
in the State Board of Education and
that said Board be authorized to in
stitute system Of bookkeeping and
accounting that shall be in harmony
with the deed. of gift so far as the
Theodore N. Vail Agricultural School
and Farms is concerned and also in
accord with the business and educa
tional policies of both institutions.
The State Board of Education is
urged to proceed upon a. systematic
policy of publicity in connection with
the Theodore N Vail Agricultural
School and Farms at LyndonvilIe and
the Vermont State Agricultural School
at Randolph Center, whereby the edu
cational opportunities and aims of
the schools shall be made familiar to
the citizens of the State of Vermont
Respectfully submitted,
H. r. KINGSLEY, Chairman,
H. l.. BALLOU,
F. S. JACKSON.
w. S. AUSTIN of Reading,
J. H. BLOOD,
]. B. ESTEE.
S. C.. CARPENTER,
II n TTTCE