The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-12-11

0e
! man of the state board of education, in
an address before the state superintend-
ents at Montpelier, reviewed the Vermont
educational system and made suggestions
for it's Improvement He said in part :
THE state board, in its membership,
probably carries out the scheme of the
J trainers of the Vermont system in that
it is made up of educational laymen
drawn from various walks in life and
supposed to represent in this respect the
body of the people. 1t has in its person
mel two essentially business men, one
lawyer, one clergyman and one editor.
IF / were to suggest any change in
personnel it would be based on the idea
that the predominant industrial class i'll
Vermont-the farmers should be repre-
scented on the board. Candidly, l think
the board lacks something that it might
nave from hat quarter.
THE basic feature of the Vermont ed
vocational system is a state board of ed
ucation composed of laymen, with an eX-
pert educator as active head of the sys-
tenn. The idea is that while an expert
educator should have all the technical
knowledge and the administrative
capacity needful to conduct the system,
he can profit by the counsel. the advice
and in certain matters by the direction
of a board of laymen, and hat the board
men of everyday affairs-can arrive at
a more balanced judgment in these mat
tiers through the ripened experience, the
technical knowledge and the close touch
of their expert in educational affairs.
1T is a practical adaptation of the
system of administration followed by all
large business enterprises board of
directors, with an expert manager or SUI
Serintendent in charge. 1t corresponds
to the commission form by which many
of our large city governments are being
conducted efficiently for the first time.
| believe it Is well adapted to its pur-
pose, for such shortcomings as may be
human c-ontrivanceS, and perhaps in the
case of Vermont TO the shortcomings of
the personnel connected.
Whatever so-called reforms are sug-
gested, the state will do we'll to move
slowly in d%isrupting the machinery of its
present educational system. 1t can cas-
lily spare any or all of the individuals at
present connected with it, but the
scheme itself should be retained.
One of the admirable features of the
plan is that it removes education from
politics. The governor appoints one
member of the state board each year for
a five-year term, but as Vermont retains
her governors but one term and as the
board consists of FIVE members, he can
not name more han two of them, unless
vacancies occur or unless he removes
members for cause. So a change of adj
ministration does not involve possibili-
ties of a complete shakeup of the state
board, with whatever handicap to action
might result therefrOm.
The selection by the board of a COM
missioner of education on a basis of
merit, whose term of service is solely de
pendent on his performance of duty and
who may be drawn from any quarter that
promises best results, has much to COM
mend it over election by the people, or
by the legislature, or appointment by the
governor, for a stated short term during
which he cannot be displaced if incompe-
tent, requiring him to play the art of
the politician to retain his place, to the
hurt of his department, and naturally
limiting the selection to our own state.
when a better choice perhaps, could be
made outside.
Il would like to consider the cost
feature a moment. Bear in mind that
what appears in the auditors account
as the salaries and expenses of superin-
tendents-a very considerable sum, an
p~rOximating this year $3.50, OOO-covers
the entire cost of expert supervision of
all the elementary schools of the state.
0N'B1 III IL AC" IlLltS anu large UONlS,
which bear n portion of their superin-
tendent's salary. ...
There are 2;349 elementary schools.
so the average cost is about S65 per
school per year-nOt a, large sum, or
out of proportion to the value of SER
vice rendered. | believe. There arc on
the average about seven rural schools to
each town in Vermont. If these towns
were able to command the part time of
a superintendent of equal ability to those
now in the field, they could hardly expect
to have it done for less than the average
of $3.50 per year it now costS-not thent.
but the state, and toward which they
contribute materially less than their pro-
portionate part. under the financial
scheme that provides the state funds.
Cost of supervision. while it has in
creased since 1915, when it amounted to
S111,OOO, has not increased unreasonable.
A gross increase of 26 per cent is far.
less than almost any business or depart
ment of government can show for the
same period. 1t is even materially less
than the increase in cost of teaching.