The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-02-16
TEACHER TRAINING IN
VERMONT,

ented at the various legislative hear
ngs in Montpelier there is being built
,p in the consciousness OF the people
N Vermont the belief that the old nor
hal schools conducted at johnson and
[,astleton failed ito come up to the
hopes of the people of the state and
hid not give full returns for the money
(which the state annually spent upon
hem and that, in consequence, YER
mont must not go back to such sys-
EN- if it hopes TO make progress IN
he educational field. There is no
houbt that Johnson and Castleton
burned out some capable teachers; 1t
would have been odd indeed If out OF
the persons who studied in those IN
stitutions there should not have been
some who turned out to be success
full teachers. But johnson and Castle
ton were able to attract but relative
| y few students during the later years
| of their existence, largely perhaps be-
cause the schools were located in COM
munities which did not offer such adj
'vantages as person seeking broad
culture might be expected to desire.
That statement is by no means meant
az a reflection on the culture of the
towns mentioned but rather as dec
+ laration that the advantages offered
were somewhat limited in those two
towns. Moreover, the opportunities
presented for practical work in teacher
training were so inadequate that IN
the days when the two schools were
fairly we'll attended the prospective
teachers did not have sufficient oppor-
tunities in which to put their theoreti-
cal training into practical operation in
the public schools; they were forced
+ BY necessity to share only brief pc
RODS of actual experience in presiding
over the schools, when, by general con
sent, it is held that actual experience
in presiding over schools is essential
in the development of teachers of the
right sort In other words, the pub
lie school system of johnson and Cas-
Teton, both of which are small towns,
were not extensive enough to furnish
the supplementary training required.
So it seems that reversion TO the sup
port of these two normal schools would
be a poor policy on the part of the
state
In the place of these normal schools
the teacher training classes in the APP
proved high schools and academies of
the state have been doing, we believe,
a very satisfactory line of work, bring
ing the teacher training possibilities
to a considerable number of men and
women in various sections Of the state
and in communities where the oppor-
tunities for practice work are far more
adequate than they are in johnson
and Castleton. These teacher training
classes, when presided over by compe.
tent teachers, are in a position to de-
velop teachers Of the sort which Yer
mont stands in need Of at the present
time; and we think that the system
should not only be retained but should
be developed along reasonable lines,
that the money is far better spent in
them than in the two normal schools
in small towns, towns which are mac
eessible for people in many sections Of
the state.
As a capstone to that system Of
teacher training for the positions in
the elementary and grade schools there
should be some well-equipped institu-
ton for the development Of teachers
for the high schools Of the state and
for the preparation Of superintendents
and other administrative officers of the
public school system. For that cap.
stone the state has received an offer
Of 100000 from the Carnegie Cor
poration and an offer Of 100000 to
be raised through the medium Of the
University Of Vermont for a building
to be erected at the splendid plant Of
the university and to be essentially a
part Of that plant but to be actually
usder the control Of the state Of Yer.
mont. II Is only necessary for the
state Of Vermont, therefore. to appro.
pirate the money for the establish.
ment Of the courses 70 be taught. to-
rether with the support q the school
Then, in addition. there Is a proposal
10 institute summer courses for the
Instruction q teachers. giving them
shat amounts 70 post graduate courses
IN the work q teacher training These
ere the essential features Of the pro
rosal made By the state board Of "a
uoation and they furnish the ground
gork for a strong system % teacher
training 4 carried cut along TIE lines
Intended. d seems 70 us that the pro
peal ought % b. sccsPted BY the lse
stature.