Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-10-14
STATE TEA CHEERS, ooI.y.EGE

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STATE TEACHERS COLLEGE,
The State Board o. Education has
ta!ten chs first pronounced forward stop
IN the solution o. the .saonsr problem In
Vermont by establishing a central inrti-
Triton rcr the training IF teachers which
~ to tske OF all .he advantages and stap-
dards Of real college. The avoidance Of
duplication Of service aid the conse-
quent ability TO increase facilities and re-
sources OF a single institution is sound
both in theory and practice.
Another fundamental principle is that
the institution should be IN keeping with
the idea of free education for American
youth. Teachers are entitled to especial
consideration in view of the limitations
with which they knowingly and willingly
surround themselves. They realize they
can never accumulate great wealth. They
know they must largely deprive them
selves in the same way Of the joys and
advantages of family life.
n a young woman determines to de-
vote herself to the profession Of teaching,
II is right that the State should aid her
in acquiring a special training for her
lfe's work. The same thing. though in
varying degrees. applies to the training
Of the male teacher who devotes his life
10 tho public schools.
These considerations u-ouId r,ilitafo IN,
favor Of a central teachers college for
Vermont, regardless of its location.
The State Board of Education had
difficult task in locating the State teach
srs' college but we believe they went at
the duty in the right way. They invited
q qualified and thoroughly impartial au-
thority from another State to make a sur
Vcy of the different communities in YER
mont and report where determining con-
siderations would place it. Mr.. Bagley
after going over the whole situation de-
cded that Burlington could be more
easily reached from most places in Yer
mont than any other community. He
found that other considerations and con-
d'tons initiated in favor Of the selection
OF burlington a favorable location.
As a State College of Medicine must be
near hospitals that afford clinical facil-
tiles, so must teachers training college
have large community Of children close
at hand. The University of Vermont has
splendid library. gymnasium. laboratory
and other facilities, to duplicate which,
would require a larger fund than the total
amount recommended by the State
Board for the mere provision of the whole
institution under existing conditions. 1t
wds wIso 'or the State to avail itself Of
these existing facilities
Will, using the University Of Yer
monte accommodations named, the State
will retain absolute control OF the state
Teachers College and dir.ct it's opera
tionT as well benz the expense Of
training teachers it has In the normal
schools IT win DO Ike Vermont and the
United States using tho Same court houses
in order to avoid Unnecessary expense
involved in wasteful duplication of nous
Ing justice
There We're formerly three separate
normal schools in Vermont those now
at Johnson and Castleton and the third
formerly conducted in Randolph. Tho
Randolph normal was converted into a
wing results. We believe the present
plants at Johnson and Castleton should
not he discarded. but should be used IN
connection with the development of Yer.
ful way.
The University of Vermont assumes nc
small burden and obligation by entering
INTO this arrangement for the operation Of
state Teachers College in connection
herewith. Tho building itself Is to rep
resent no expense to the taxpayers o.
Vermont, The Carnegie Foundation has
done a handsome thing by donating thu
sum Of 100000 to aid in the construction o.
teachers college, provided 100000 In ah
dltion Is raised for this purpose, The Uni
vcrsity of Vermont undertakes TO rails,
this sum, in addition to performing vari
Gus kinds of service for tho new insti
tuition. Burlngton's public spirited cit
liens and other friends of higher educa
ton may be relied upon to do their fai
share in the provision of the necessar.
funds to The extent necessary.
Believing that the college Of traininl
FOR teachers supplemented by teachers
training classes in high schools will meal