The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-08-17
EDUCATION AL.
HOSEA BARNS,
EDITOR
SCHOOL SUPERVISION"

benefit is school VISITATION by the county
Superintendent? He can not, at least he
does not visit our schools oftener than
once or twice, at most three times in a
term, and his visits are seldom if ever
longer than half day each. What can
he know of school, or what good can he
accomplish in such visits ?"8
We reply: The object of the supt. in
visiting school arc first and foremost to
inquire into the efficiency of the teacher,
SO as to determine with regard to grant
ing certificates in tee ure, and to de
terminc as to the course to be pursued at
future institutes, looking toward the i'm
provement Of the teachers themselves.
The best way to improve schools is to i'm
prove those who conduct them To ac-
complish this, we have taken notes at
every school we have visited, relating to
defects in Governments manners and
methods. We have also noticed com
mendable features, and thus have estab-
lisheda a basis upon which to work in
institute. Now we hold that a very
definite idea Of the teachers ability and
success may be obtained at single visit
made by one thoroughly acquitted with
the science and we'll practiced in the art
OF teaching A physician would be called
dull, stupid or incompetent who could
not determine with an approximate de-
gree of certainty as to the nature of
patients disease upon visiting and re
naming half day with said patient
''once, twice or at least three times" If
defects exist, it is unnecessary for pro
fessional teacher, or = competent superin-
tendent to remain in school room half
day to detect them
The second object of school visitation
is to do the school immediate good, by
suggesting changes IN classification, and
modltications in methods of study, reci-
tatlon, general conduct on the part Of
pupils and general management on the
part ofteachers where such changes and
notifications are desirable, and likely to
be carried out. To accomplish this, the
morefrequent visits are the better. The
sense of Tax Payer will tell HIM however,
that with this object in view, the super
1ntendent is in duty bound to confine his
second and subsequent visits to those
schools in which changes and modifca
lions are needed or being made. It is
wrong for the superintendent to visit
school second or third time IN a term
where a visis is not needed and will he
productive of little good if made, provid-
ing that his attention as required in some
other school although he may have visited
1t half dozen times before Where the
work ls there should hea5e. And we
should have very poor opinion of that
superintendent who would neglect what
he knew to be duty simply to answer the
unreasonable clamors of those afflicted
with SO much short sightedness that the
boundary of their school district is also
she boundary of their field of vision.
4 hid Nbject 2f >caooi visitation Is
co encourage ana stimulate both teacher
ana pupils through gentle admonition
When necessary, aud hearty commenda-
ton when possible. In this respect the
visits OF the superintendent are the same
as those of district affairs. And we NAV
say just here that the law requiring dis
ttict officers to visit schools ought to be
enforced by public opinion if in no other
way. These officers in common with
teacher and superintendent should be
held accountable for the success of the
school.
A fourth object of school visitation is
that inquiries into the condition of
school buildings, furniture, apparatus &C.,
may be made so that advice may be pro
perly given. Considering the amount of
money spent for annual rpairs and alter.
atoms in and about school buildings, es.
peclally in accordance with the sugges.
tons of the Supt., this matter appears to
us to be of.no small consequence. .-@
s. Believing that we have shown Tax
Payer that school visitations by the
County Supt. is of practical benefit
although visits may be infrequent and
short, we will close this article in the
true Yankee style by asking q question