The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-15

udllHR TOU lne examination nelu November llbn
Louis A. Ridge, Thomas H. Fuller, Annie II.
Thompson, Mary Anna Burrough, Kate E. Plum
mer Il. Louise Young c. Henry Kain, Lizzie Phiiler,
William Brown, Sahina A. Adamson, Sophie, W.
Burnester Mary Lybrand, Kate Berghauser Mary
Nevins, s. A. Gaskel Sallie w. Powell, Annie Lucy,
Ella A. Fagan, Maggie e Quin, Mary f.; sonder,
Burnett, S. Laura Donley, A. Cora Davis Mary E.
Jones, Kate Boyer, Annie L. Smith, Linda M. Tay-
lespie, Anna M Foust Lille II. Morris, Mary &.
Broadhurst, Mary w. Clifton, Clara j. Armstrong,
Brown D. k0gers Mary Louise sghss s5n ASe
G. BECKER Mary Quinlan, Clemmil w. McCord,
Elmira Meredith, Jennie McArdle, Laura Mcintosh,
Annie L. Keen, H. W. Shaute, Josephine Sailor,
Anna j. Miller, Lizzie A. Morris, Rena H. Campbell,
Alinda M. Fay, Mary T. Wagner, Annie M. Hinke,
Currick, Es Lizzie Smith, Louisa X. Jefferson, Mary
+. Becher, Kate X. Hare, Lizzie @ Thompson, Net
w. Smith, Harriet II. Hnkle, Adelaide V. Sundland,
Carrie E. Perkins, Ella 9. Williams, Maggie A. Muir
BesIe sp Belle S Thompson o" Mary Huime sae ne R
Murphy Laura A. Elliott Mary Ferguson, Allie Nor
ton, Rachel }. Esenbrey Phoebe Wiler, M. Lille
Brooks, Carrie M. Hutton Josephine Thompson,
Mr. Mcbride moved that 500 copies of the report
be published for the use Of the members OF the
Board. Agreed to.
MIR. HicEok, from the once Committee, submitted
report, recommending the printing of the warrants
on bank-note paper Agreed to-
The same gentleman also presented the following
interesting report
SCHOOL SUPER TNTENDENT
To the Board of Controllers Of Public Schools
The Special Committee the School Superin-
tendency respectfully present the following report;
Organization and system are essential to the sue
cessu administration OF public school affairs; espe-
ciay in community so large as ours, and rapidly
growing The proper organization OF public school
system, understood and operated in this country,
is simple as to be self-evdent To state the case
is to decide the policy.
With most Of the leading features Of weI.ar-
ranged system OF public instruction our people are
already familiar. School buildings and furniture
nd To tn he md
Bile. They understand the necessity for grades in
schools, from the primary to the high school, in
order to the proper classification of pupils and
rangement Of studies, and the suitable division of
labor among teachers. They recognize the proprety
of normal schools for the due training Of teachers
for the public schools OF competent board Of
aminers to grant certificates, and Of teachers nsti
tutes for the Improvement OF teachers already in the
field. And they are accustomed TO the agency of
controllers and directors the general and local
government of the system Thus far we stand on
common ground and are conscious of no material
| differences OF opinion.
But there is with us, one element yet wanting to
I'LL up the outline, and round out the fun proportions
| OF a symmetrical ana comp lete school system.
Next to its teaching force and means of support,
an Indispensable requisite to the full OF any
public system OF education is the general super
vision OF the schools by experts in the art of teach
ing This principle, the professional supervision OF
schools is everywhere alike applicable, in town and
country, city and village, ana furnishes the key to
the revolution in the workings of public school sys
TENS during the last fifteen years throughout the
Northern half Of the republic, especially in large
cities 1t has also been the executive handspring
of educational effort in the Southern States since
| the close Of the Rebellion.
Your committee have not been able to discover
anything i'll the condition prospects of the First
school district to make 1t an exception TO the uni
| Yersal rule on the contrary, they are of the inn
preston that more inviting field for its benencent
agency cannot readily be found
The Committee on Revision of Studies alluded to
this subject in their general report of March TO- 1868,
and stated with great force and Justness that "No
pan OF general education the success of which de-
pends upon the conduct Of Others however solctous
these may be in the performance Of their duties can
complete without a
OF one who having the confidence and affection OF
and watchful to discover deficiencies in the system
and to recommend to the consideration OF the Board
| such improvements as his own experience and that
of other cities may from time to time suggest. Thus
we should be constantly advised by one who tho
roughly accomplished in his duties would be enabled
to direct his whole attention to the large field of in
structon covered by the schools Of the First School
| District of Pennsylvania"
really competent school superintendent placed in the
| field at the same time with revised course OF
studies, nearly two years of lost time would, in the
| Judgment of your committee have been saved; our
teachers have been less bewildered the board re-
lieved from perpleXing endorsements, and needed
| notifications ascertained and settled at much
| earlier day.
elaborate discussion of this subject in detail. 1t is
too late in the day. in this remarkable era OF educa
tona light, activity, and progress, FOR such line of
| argument. 1t is no longer an open question. They
point at once to the living unanswerable demOnstra-
ton furnished by New York city, with her corps Of
| superintendent Boston, Baltimore, Washington,
| Louisville, Cincinnati, st. Louis, Chicago, Miwau-
kee, Cleveland Buffalo, and a score Of other Cities
where this mode of Supervision is as much an esta-
bished part OF their school machinery as fuel and
furniture, textbooks and teachers; and where the
superiority of the results produced vndicates, be-
| yond all peradventure, the wisdom OF the policy.
| What Congress would be in attempting to conduct
war without general in the field; the directors of
our leading railway company without general and
| division superintendents in immediate charge of
their road or a machine shop without foreman; ;
the Board Of Control practically is, without skilled
and efficient agent to supervise and periodically
| port upon the work of tuition in the schools.
To legislate is one thing; to administer is another
and very different thing. The Board OF Control is
| a legislative body, mainly; and in the nature OF
things it can never either of itself through any
| OF its committees, reach stimulate, and mould the
| working life OF our schools. What official and aJ-
thentc information has the board to-day of theIcon-
dtion OF the schools under its CHARGE or the fidelity
| with which the course OF instruction any other
prescribed regulations are carried out? None Then
| why grope in the dark any longer? Why not by de-
csive action place ourselves at once in the line of
| intellgently directed progress?
| The principle under consideration is already con-
| ceded in our own practice. We have a superin-
tendent OF school buildings and REPAIRS whose
| vices are invaluable. superintendent of music,
without which there could be no uniform system in
that important but longneglected branch OF educa-
ton and nineenths of our teachers, the assistants
have been for years under the nominal Jurisdiction
OF their respective principals. Why not give super
vision more extended and seryceable appica-
ton in direction more vitaly important than any
The School Superintendent would be.as useful to
the Sectional Boards to the Board of Control.
| Having to do mainly with the methods OF nstruc-
| ton and the appliances OF the teaching art, there
could be no conflict OF jurisdcuon his duties in
this respect would cover ground they do not pretend
| 10 occupy. Their committees would accompany him
on his school visitations at their peasure and 1t il
very desirable they should do so in order to profit by
any suggestions he may have to make, and to Judge
duties. Scrupulously respecting their local jurs-
dictlon and authority and reporting to them upon
| such matters coming under his observation as
belong to them to regulate, mutual good under
standing, beneficial TO the schools, would soon