Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-10-14
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addresses, and two banquets In the eve
ming. The Headmasters club, which was
In session nearly all day. set the pace
With a determined movement against the
college entrance examination board,
which. was led by Principal J. r. Colburn
OF Burlington high school and resulted in
the appointment Of committee to in
Vestigats conditions and secure statistics
relative to tho experiences which grad
mates Of Vermont high schools have had
with this board Mr. Coburn was MADE
the chairman OF this committee
Il was toward the close of the after
noon session Of the Headmasters club
when Mr. Colburn, who had been pre-
sidins as chairman Of the meeting. called
the newly elected president. H. p.
Dickinson Of st. Adams, to the chair,
and took the floor to open up the subject
If The College Entrance Examination
Board"
ATTACKS ENTRANCE BOARD
Mr.. Colburn handled the matter frank
ly. He told OF certain instances where
graduates Of Burlington high school. who
had graduated high In their classes and
were considered excellent students. had
taken the examinations of the college en-
trance board, and failed in all of them. In
one case, where girl had failed in every
examination. a re-reading of the papers
was secured and the girl was passed in
half Of the examinations. Mr.. Colburp
said that the marking must. necessarily,
have been 70 per cent wrong in the first
place. or 30 per cent wrong In the second
place.
Mr. Colburn called attention TO cases
in which the pupil had failed to pass the
examinations. the board had refused TO
make known the subjects in which the
pupils failed, thus leaving the pupil en-
for another trial.
In speaking of one case, where a gradu
ate OF a public high school in the State
had finally gotten by the College En-
trance Board and into college with con-
ditions. this pulAl found that in the
dormitory whore she was placed. only a
small percentage OF the students were
from public schools. Mr.. Colburn further
stated that. in order TO find out what
schools were doing acceptable work for
entrance to colleges which require the
College Entrance Board examinations. in
terrogations had been sent out. and It
had been ascertained that only few
public schools are on this list.
It would seem from these facts that
there is a discrimination among many of
our colleges against the public school.
Our colleges cease to he democratic in
situations. They become institutions which
are open only to children whose fathers
and mothers are able to pay for a, course
in private school.
MIR. Colburn stated that during the last
year or So no student from either Bur
lington or Rutland high school has been
able to get into colleges which require
College Entrance Board examinations.
without conditions He quoted figures to
, show that about 50 per cent of those who
take the College Entrance Board exami-
nations fail to pass them
IT was stated also. that one Of the
readers Of these College Entrance Board
examination papers had made the state
ment that the marks of the various
readers often varied by 10 per cent and
that in one case where number of diff
ferent readers went over the same set
Of papers. the lowest mark given was IN
and the highest was II, while there were
many in between.
1T Is unfortunate that we should submit
our boys and girls to an absolute lot
terry" said Mr. Colburn.
Mr.. Colburn's statements aroused q
. storm Of hitter comment against the
methods Of the College Entrance Board
club reported somewhat similar expert
ences.
II was recommended that the Head
ma sters club take action to get tho eX-
act facts about this matter and If these
| facts are found to show discrimination
| against public schools and unfair treat
ment Of candidates for entering college
that action be taken by the schoolmas
| ters NJ Vermont to cease all dealings with
this hoard and to influence graduates OF
Vermont high schools to attend colleges
/ other than those requiring the college
/ Entrance Board examinations, The com
mittee which will investigate this matter
will make a report to the Headmasters
club at the meeting next March.
HEADMAsTERs' OFFICERS
This club elected officers for the com
Ing year as follows: President, II. p. Dick
! inson Of st, Adams. vice. president A. 8
! Hartman Of Middlebury; secretary-treas
urer Earle Bradley of Pittsford, athletic
committee. Mr.. Morrill, Of Bakersfield
Mr.. Stone Of Derby, Mr.. Hunt Of Barre
Mr.. Boak Of Windsor and Mr. Sheldon o
Proctor.
! UNION SUPERINTENDENT MEET
There was a strong sentiment espresso
at the conference of union super
intendents Thursday that the annual con
ventions OF the Vermont Teachers asso
citation are too long and that they brea
into the work at the beginning of tn
school year too much. 1t was the senti
ment of the meeting that the association
should go back to the old plan of a tw
day convention. which would begin o.
Thursday noon and end Saturday noon
thus taking as little time as possible on
Of the regular school program. Their
was a widespread conviction expresse
that there are too many interruptions I
the work In the schools, that holiday
and conventions, etc, are more and NOR
causing a backward movement in tn
quality OF work done In the schools. TIL
superintendents were In favor of takn
added precautions to prevent these in
t8rruptons Of the school programs /
tho future
A discussion Of the subject of increase
tuition in the various high schools Of tn
State led to the generally expressed opin
: Ion that the next Legislature should pas
a law requiring the small towns whic
do not support high schools to pay IN
entire tuition. or at least larger par
OF II than is paid at present. for pupil
! from those towns who attend the hig
schools In the larger centers. II has bee
found necessary for the high schools t
raise the tuition In order to keep pac
with mounting costs.
} Superintendent C.. y. Howe, Morrsvill,
presided at the meeting, which was ad
dressed by Hugh MaSill.s neld@seoretar
; oEathAeMztto Educat ionala q ssocistioi
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