Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-12-30
TEACHERS TRAINING CLASSES vs. NORMAL SCHOOLS

poet Longtelow Vi
the year A. d. Psalm of Life teaches that things
ore what they seem. The thing of issues
Superficial observers have concluded that the periodical storm
sweeping Vermont about contest between
the normal schools Johnson and Casteton and the pro-
posed Teachers College be established in connection with
the University of Vermont at expense to the State
Fundamentally the issue is really between the teachers
training classes established in 1911 high schools and
other secondary throughout the State and the two
normal schools named The champions of the normal schools
hold that their institutions should train teachers for the rural
schools alone the elementary grades do the teachers train
ing classes in the various high schools
The Teachers College, the other hand while afoding
facilities for such elementary teachers cared take advan
tage of short would find its chief function inevitably
in the and training OF teachers tor the hgh ana
If the normal schools carried out the plans their cham
by combining their work the training of rural teachers
and there Teachers College field of teacher
schools the and villages throughout the State would
largely neglected graduates of the University and
ss
States Bureau of Education who made national to
age of less than 5000 high school teachers There
1000 high schools the United States and about 70 600 teach
and 1t requires about teachers to take the place OF
There ia really fight, therefore. between those who
College for the training Of advanced teachers and the
mai schools in Castleton and Johnson
AS sympathetic observer OF the vigorous struggle the
champions of the normal schools making would hint to
them that they entirely reversing the strategic maxim Of mil
tay warfare which the great Napoleon follow
His method divide the forces of the and defeat
them in succession with his united army.
Some Of good friends of Casteton and Johnson
have started only force their enemies combine but
also to raise enemies
close friend of Castleton said that the teachers
training classes various high schools good Regard
less Of the merit of his contention moved that he
directing his attacks against the real rivals of Casteton
The outcome OF the gathering of the Castle
school have been the taking on of other
we'll the teachers training classes The OF the
bitter enders includes these tasks: To abolish the State Board
of Educaton abolish the abolish the
town system and with return to the district
school abolish election OF the State by the
Board and return to the election of State
by the OF yore to abolish teachers training class
and so
However. it is both sides of this whole
situation in brief form enable readers the
of the battle pending the Legislature The present
in Johnson and Sastleton only until August last and in
structed the State Board locate central teachers
and M az NO o the State
with teachers for all departments.
The champions of the normal school argue that this
tuition has long done the work it intended do that it
has been by enemies that keeps the teacher
rural schools than larger that the
NAL should train teachers for the rural schools excusvey that
this be done therein economically that its graduates have
vindicated its claim to continued by the State
The arguments which seem to have prevailed with succeed
short of keeping the State supplied with teachers that the
normal schools had degeneraed high schools
regions of that the paying
amount for the teachers that the State could hire the
that the which the normal champions used
central school would initiate against the forcing of all
throughout the State Johnson Casteton that these
places lack the clinical facilities of elementary schools
teacher of the training classes that the consolidation
facilities would make possible do better work for teachers
for high schools especially and better teachers than
could institutions doing duplicate service and dividing
port and supplies.
Figures but they do tell whole story For
the number of graduates of the normal schools
training classes do for better schools unless those
graduates actually teach they other professions
cations the State fund wasted 1t fair however
that those students who training classes after taking
ular high school intend teach Bearing these
atldvn h,t
upon seeking State Commissioner of Education c. H. Demp
sey has kindly furnished
The membership of the Caseton school from 900 to
1920 has been follows in the respective 80 H. 49,
lO6, 100, l4 los. l9, 49, l33, 49, blanks in ell-l2
&c. g. 76 IS blank for l97 A. blank for 1919 20 92o
The graduates of the Caeon school in 1900 49,
in order of years following H. A. 49, 49, A. 3D. S. 49, 46
3d. 49, a. A. &c. S.. So, IS, 20 for 1920 making total il
twenty years of 8l4
Membership Of the Johnson school was 50 in 1900, ane
order of 66. ~ 49, CO. g. 49, 65 49, 76 49, Sc
ST. 1873 1911 81, 81. g. 3d. "a in 1920. total of l.524
The graduates at Johnson in 1900 numbered and in
der, a. e, IS, H. 70. 49, Is. 3d. II. Is, II! TO- 2.
40 49, 49, 49, 3D. TO- and in 920 49, total of 62 twenty
years.
The teachers training classes of the State 1912 gradua