The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-07-19
To STANDARD|zE
RURAL SCHOOLS
Committee Submits Report
to State Board of
Education
WOULD IMPROVE
ALL ALONG LINE

MUNIHELlER, July l9.-At the last
meeting of the State Board of Educa-l
ton, the board adopted the following
report of Commissioner Clarence H.
Dempsey and Dorothy Garfield Fisher,
the committee on standardizing rural
schools, and directed the committee to
put the provisions of the report in eff
feet with the beginning of the school
year.
To Members of the State Board of
Education:
our committee desires to present the
following report on standard rural
schools for your consideration.
The object to be attained is indicated
by the tltle-tO promote the improve
ment of rural schools in Vermont until
they are placed and maintained on Il I
high standard of efficiency in buildings
and surroundings OF satisfactory char
acter.
The standards to be striven for
should be definitely stated in a cireu-
lar or booklet. They should be simple,
comprehensive and attainable. Such a
circular has been prepared by repre-
sentatives of the Vermont Women
Teachers association, and has been pref
Sented to the board for its approval.
We recommend its adoption as
amended by the board in its confer
ences on this subject, except that thei
question OF financial aid or reimburse
ment be further adjusted by the board.
The success of the contemplated work
will depend in a large measure upon:
/. Election OF a competent Inspector
| or supervisor.
> a campaign of publicity to arouse
3. Effective, simple administration.
| 4. Sufficient incentives and induce
ments.
!. Inspector or supervisor.
| The inspector or supervisor should be
a person of energy, good Judgment and
| tact, and ability to arouse enthusiasm
and support.
| His work should be largely in the
field, and should consist to a large eX-
tent of educating the rural public as to
| the difference between poor and good
schools, of arousing interest and desire
for better schools and of giving praC-
teal advise and assistance to directors,
superintendent and interested patrons
in improving their schools.
He should know what Is required to
make school conditions, instruction, or
ganzation, courses OF study, community
gatherings and the like satisfactory, Ell
fectiye and lasting
| His suggestions should be practical,
sensible, economical and such as to ere
late confidence and favorable reactions.
He should know details of admlnstra-
|
plies, etc.
His reports ON schools. either of those
below standard or above should be ac-
curate, constructive and capable OF
practical use They should be written
and sent to the various individuals con
cerned, and copies thereof should be
filed at Montpelier for reference.
| , Publicity.
The Inspector or supervisor should as
l. sist in general state publicity.
h ,feFl RgaF roo
S should be provided, giving attention not
only to desired ends and TO plans ioi
Improvement, but also to reports OF
achievements and to lists of schools
and towns that secure worthy results
Booklets and circulars should be pre-
pared for distribution Especially We
: recommend issuing a phamplet on rura
schools as a handbook for the inspector
and for school authorities.
Meetings in local communities
oranges, church societies, entertain
ments for the public in the school build
ings. etc, should be planned for.
school exhibits at town meetings
{. lpublic stores and at school should be ar
0 ranged
3. Administration. The administra-
D tion of the plan would include:
l. Personal work OF the supervisor
) ,. Office and clerical work. This
0 would be done in part by local superin
> tendents and other school officials, ant
o in part by the clerical force in the com
missioner's office. 1t would include dis
o tribution of circulars, correspondents
0 tabulating results, keeping records o.
D standard and non-standard schools
awarding and distributing plates, but
q tons, etc, and keeping account OF dis
bursements and expenses.
D This work could be done without III
0 creasing the present Office force.
T. Incentives and Inducements.
These would be of two kinds.
list Honor rewards. Standard anC
superior schools should be awarded
suitable plates. and pupils and teache
might well be awarded buttons. SUIT
able COMPLIMENTARY certificates should
be sent to school authorities tprefeT
ably directors1 and an honor list SHOULD
be kept at the commissioner : office ant
be published from time to time as oc
casion might require.
ID. Financial rewards. Our preseH
law regulations provide for certain
state aid that will apply directly to
ward establishment and MAINTENANCE
J. of standard schools. Such aid may b
y classed as follows:
i !. State aid for teachers salaries
S from 50 TO So per week.
>. State aid for repairs cite, I'D Z
, maximum of $500 for each town.
3. Disbursement for current expenses
g varying from nothing to possibly 30
] | pc. school
l. In, addition to this aid there snoHld b
: some plan devised that would serve =
}. direct indueement to establish al;i Z
continue standard schools. Such az
should be automaticall, available 10
CIV "op school that is Standardized, y
. SIM ic in its administration. and b.
= planned so as not to exceed a set, rea
sonable sum of money. On this pom
the chairman's report should be gIYel
favorable consideration.
Respectfully submitted,
DOROTHY CANFIELD FlSlltR