The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-01-11
vERMoNT'S RURAL SCHOOLS.

$500
So much has been said and Is still
being said about the retrogression OF
Vermont rural schools and the deterio-
ration Of their ply sical equipment that
news TO the contrary is welcome and
somewhat reassuring. For instance, we
read thai the pupils in the Burke Hol-
low school found marked changes in
their schoolhouse when they returned
to begin the winter term of school,
They founI that the town had installed
4 new blackboard. that the money
raised By the children at a Christmas
sale had been turned into handsome
bookcase and desk, that the old desk
had been cut down into a work table
for the younger children and that the
cupboard formerly used for books was
to be utilized for storing of lunch bas-
kets and dinner pals. All these de-
tails may seem meagre, indeed, and of
q very homely nature; but there is no
doubt that they go far toward making
the schoolhouse in Burke Hollow more
livable during school hours and more
place Of attraction to the pupils Of
the school.
That better surroundings, more ade-
quate equipment, more cheerful decora.
ton are, together, almost as essential
as higa grade teachers in building up
school is recognized fact at the
present time A teacher Of fine men,
tally Is, of course, the great asset
of school but even given teacher
of suen stamp school does not
reach its highest possibilities unless
the instruction from that teacher is
given in schoolhouse that is comfort
ably ami attractively arranged. That
is why more stress is being laid to-
day on the physical surroundings of
school buildings, inside and out.
But it is possible to lay too much
stress on those features, as one would
Judge by perusal Of an article in the
most recent number Of the Ladies'
Home Journal, in which the writer con
dennis Vcrnont's rural schools and de-
clares they are second only to Ken
tucky's in bad features. In order to
prove his contention, the writer of the
article picks out a town in county
sparsely populated and having the Sc
rious problems that come to any town
having restricted population. The
writer Of tie article found that in one
school stove was in use which had
been in uSe there sixty years ago and
that the schoolhouse was. not sufficient
~ heated, and that in connection with
another school there was an clubhouse
which had not been given attention
for four years; furthermore, that there
was lack Of the inspiration which
comes FROM flowers. in the schoolroom.
1t Is no doubt true that those condi-
tons were as represented; but those
conditions in sparsely populated
town are not conclusive evidence that
vermonts rural school system is go
ing TO the dogi and that the children
are being treated inhumanely. The
trend Of public opinion in Vermont for
the last tw. decades has been toward
improved conditions in the public
schools, anc If some scattered sections
are tagging behind the movement for
bettermsnt it is not proof that the en-
tire system OF rural schools is to be
condemLed. lock. stock and barrel, SO
TO speak
The evidence furnished BY the little
changes IN tie Burke Hollow school, a.
above noted, goes 70 show that there
Is a spirit Of progress in the back
schools o. the state; and those evil
denoes j caid be weighed in forming an
opinion whether the entire rural school
system Il going downhill. Wholesale
condemnation i 70 be resented BE-
cause IL j. not based on thorough
t-rou,.s4-a az eon1fffons over *ha -h.rc