The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-02-12
Stea1ns Bill analysed
By Opponents of Measure

MONTPELIER, Feb. 12.-Opponents
of House bill No. 9S, the education meas
ure introduced by the Stearns forces,
have submitted an extensive analysis of
the measure from their point of view.
This viewpoint may be regarded as that
of the present state board of education.
In its statement on the bill, its opponents
say in part:
The intent of the bill is evidently:
To establish a comprehensive, uni
fed system for training teachers for all
positions in the state, a system to be
placed directly under tne practical con-
troll of the commissioner of education.
To coordinate the different divisions
of teacher training work in helpful
way, and to make each division perform
a distinct task in meeting particular
needs
To re-establish the normal schools
at johnson and Castleton, as the only
normal schools of the state, and on a
standard basis (o2en to high school
graduates only or equivalent)
To utilize both Middlebury college
and the University of Vermont as atfil-
lated institutions for training high
school teachers.
To force a large group of moderately
well trained teachers into rural school
positions for brief period, after which
they must graduate from normal school
if DESTROYS of continuing to teach.
I'm all essential points. the restora-
ton of the normal schools is on their
former basis, but gives exclusively to
johnson and CastletOn the regular nor
NAL school work of the state. In view
of the universally admitted deSirabillty
of securing normal school graduates for
all schools. and the inadequacy of these
two schools under any circumstances to
accomplish this end save in small part
"a fact that has been demonstrated over
Il long period of years it is not wise
to confine normal school training to these
two institutions. even if it be decided
to restore them. \ restoration of former
conditions will perpetuate former unsat-
isfactOry results.
Chief Limitations.
The chief limitations of Castleton and
johnson normal schools may be listed as
follows
Anticipated, incOnvenient. insufficient
plants. The building at Johnson has but
four regular class rooms. laboratory,
manual training room, hall. library and
Office. The building is a wooden struc
ture used first as a normal school in
1856. The Castleton building is just one
hundred years old and shows its age.
Insufficient practice facilities. John
sou h"d an average attendance in 1920
OF % pupils (all schOols) Castleton,
snail, non-growing communities.
--ul t.on 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920
johnson -. los 1495 1862 1891 147S
CaStlcton =. 3243 $500 1896 2OS9 1919
Lack of cultural broadening expert
ences outside the curriculum-inherent
in the size and location of the places.
Development and richness of experience.
not restriction should characterize the
training of teachers,
Lack of means to train for principal
I, l.,
"RemOteneSs and inacceSsibility for
many students.
Except for the first (Which could be
remedied by erection of new buildingS).
these limitations cannot be removed, and
they interfere to a degree with the quail
ity of work possible, but even more with
number of teachers it is possible to train
there.
Moreover. these limitations are well
understood by bright, capable girls who
are accordingly not drawn to these
schools as they should be. To what ex-
tent this feeling prevails may be judged
from the replies of present training class
girls to a letter of inquiry, concerning
their desires and intentions. to pursue
advanced training"
The summary of results follows
Total number of classes, n.
Number of classes that reported, %.
Enrolment of classes that have re-
ported. 246
Number who would plan to attend
teachers college. las.
Percentage who would plan to attend
teachers college, 60.
Number who would plan to attend
Johnson or Castleton normal school. 10.
Percentage who would plan to attend
Johnson or CastletOn normal school. 1S.3
Can't Be Depended On.
The statement continues
This report is very significant. The
~. +
schools do not appeal more strongly to