The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-03-03
Maintenance Expense of a Teachers
College.

Editor, Barre Times: A prominent
educator in Vermont inveighed against
the combination of teachers college
and a normal school. BY the same logic
the combination OF normal school and
teacher. training class, the bill for
which he was a champion, can be con
demned. In each combination the major
course is twice the length OF the minor
course and is relatively for extensive
training.
As the state board of education asks
for an appropriation Of only 100000
for the maintenance of teacher training
classes. a normal school and a teachers
college. which amount Il an increase OF
only So GOO over the amount previously
used and which is also but little
more than The amount spent in the
maintenance Of the normal school at
Bridpewater or at Fitchhurg, Mass. the
question naturally arises concerning
/ the expenditure Of the proposed appro.
lpriation 1t Is inferred that about $50.
| 600 will be needed for the teacher
1 training classes 20 insure competent
land trained teacher for each rural
school The remaining $4,000 would,
/ therefore. be expended in the mainte-
nance Of the teachers college and nor.
NAL school combined.
The teachers college will prepare
hInior and senior high school teachers,
I gricultural and domestic science in
structors, superintendent and super.
tyisors and principals of teacher train.
/ ing classes. while the normal school
win train teachers for the heavier
rnral schools and for such other SCHOOL
positions as cannot be supplied through
promotions.
The same teaching force will be used
in the normal school as is used in the
teachers college BY this combination
the maintenance expense of the normal
school viii be small when compared
with the maintenance expense OF the
normal schools Of neighboring states
and will not be inferior in the quality
Of the training. Furthermore, the main
tenance expense Of the teachers college
and normal school combined will be but
little more, If any, than the average
amount expended upon the normal
schools Of the neighboring states.
On the other hand, as was stated by
| Mr.. A. W. Hewett at a public hearing
and as must be apparent, the mainte.
nance of two normal schools, even j
they are only ordinary in their ad
vantapes, will be much more expensive
than the single normal school and
teachers college combined and main
tanned az single plant. Under th'
lplan Of the state board not only vii
THE expense be much less, but the sit'
land buildings will be furnished free (
the state and at a cost Of more thar
100000. the professional advantages
will be far superior TO any possible ad
vantage under the Stearns bill VIII
it, pittancc Of an appropriation 10
each school and the irremediable lsel
Of sufficient children at Castleton d
Johnson for observation or experiment
al purposes, preparation for al classes
} and grades Of schools viii Be provide,
rather than training for rural school
only. and Vermont viii have an insfi
tuition comparable 10 that % an!
lneiRhboring state. one that viii BE- I
] credit to the state, one that Fill re
move its educational deficiency aud Dis
irepute. one that Will bring The state re
spect and esteem.
One who Is interested in schools