The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-01-15
MAKE TEACHING
MORE ATTRACTIVE
That Is One of the Means of Solving
the School Problem in
Vermont.

teachers i'll Vermont, the state. boar,
OF education in recent report de
clares that no state plan looking t
betterment of conditions can be fully
realized in the establishment of cen
trail normal school, which is a crying
need, unless other remedies are pro
vided to make teaching an attractive
calling and each town is advised tx
| organize its school work so that the
/ following may be offered to the sue
cessful teacher:
/. Attractive working conditions.
2. Genuine hospitality
3. Social advantages which her posi-.
ton warrants.
4, Association with the brightest
minds and finest characters.
5. A salary which win attract and
retain.
| 6. A salary which places premium
on efficient service.
Z. A salary which provides for adj
vancement in such manner as to EN-
phasize improvement or growth in the
service.
Rural School Problems.
The well defined rural school prob
lens are classified as follows:
!. Sufficient supply of pupils.
2. Location and convenience of ac-
cess.
3. Financial support.
4. Securing and holding capable
teachers.
On the problem of supply of pupils
the report says: Reports recently re-
ceived indicate that there are now 1855
one-room rural schools running, with
20 temporarily closed from lack of
available teachers. In 1915 these same
reports show total number of 1900
one-room rural schools. Within this
five years period approximately $50
schools have been closed for lack of
pupils, so for purposes of consolidation
(of which most were small Improbable
schools and so or 60 schools have been
re-opened owing to local increases or
shifting in rural population"
On the question of location the re-
port quotes the statute relative to
transportation of children to and from
school and adds: "The chief troubles
are, in the first place, to find anyone
who will carry children, next to get
the work done at reasonable price
then to be assured of satisfactory con
veyance, reliable and competent serv-
ice"
coffee records show that the largest
number of children transported for
three terms in any one year was in
1916 (4,69S pupilsl This last wear
1890 eleven hundred less children
were carried-3.5 smaller number
than were transported in any year
since 1918 t3.40s) Even in 1912 the
number was larger-3.694"
The report comedies that rural
schools are relatively more expensive |
to maintain but meets the inclins- +
ton of the taxpayers to curtail this
class of expenses with the following I
statement: /
eve must take radically different |
point of view. namely that each com
munity shall see to it that sufficient /
number of schools shall be established
to most conveniently accommodate all /
the children, that liberal policy shall
be adopted concerning Transportation
Of remote children. that these buildings
90 far as needed shall be remodeled. i'm
proved, painted, beautified, well
and made hygienic, model
schools. the equal of. or better even
than the best the towns provide.
Moreover, every effort must be
made to secure the best possible teach
'rs for such schools. even if they have
70 be paid extra for their services.
The poorer and more isolated district.
he greater the need of superior
school TO make up so far as possible
or deprivations that are unavoidable"
Financial.
The report gives comparative
statement of receipts and expenses of
he state department for 1919 and 1920
or matters educational. under the
reading Consolidated School Fund"
The receipts for 1919 were S53s,3ls.66 !
nd expenditures S5G5 ,396.4l. For 1920, !
eceipts, S00,525.55; expenditures $751; ,
3O5S
The report states that the Junior
Ugh schools of the state are accom-
fishing much in enlarging education
| opportunities in Vermont, shown
by increased high school at
enhance and increased desire by high
chool pupils to continue their educa-
ion after graduation.
The value of the state teachers reg
'tration bureau, organized in Febru-
nv, 1920, is revealed in this state
rent:
From March l, 1920, TO Dee. /, 1920,
bout $50 teachers registered with the
ureau OF these 100 registered for
ositions as principals and superin-
,ndent, 200 for departmental work
! high schools, 300 for grade positions
nd 200 for rural schools. The bu-