, 1884-04-27
CITY SCHOOLS.
The County Superintendent Sums
Up His Labors
And Makes Public the Result OF
His Investigations.
A Report With a Tinge of Sugges-
t~iVeness About 1t.

''"' W. 'o-horipW. III ~ made IN re
latlon to certain matters of special inquiry
after u long and careful inspection of
every department of the city schools by
County Superintendent Richardson, in
conformity with II requestof the District
Board, which took the form Of a resolu-
ton, adopted by the Board March 10,
and which was as follows:
Resoired, That the County Superinten
dent be requested TO make an examina-
ton of the principal and teachers now
employed IN the public school of Chey
enne, and that such examination shall be
made with SPECIAL reference to the aualif-
cations Of such principal and teachers to
and govern in said school.
At a subsequent meeting of the Board
an understanding was arrived at that the
purposes of the resolution would be ac
complished by an inspection of the schools
and a report thereof with particular refer
ence to the capacity of the present corps
of teachers TO instruct and govern.
The report, as it viii be presented to the.
Board of Education by County Superin
tendent Richardson, is as follows:
In conformity with your request, made
by resolution of March u. | have the
honor to report that | have made proper
investigation IN the matter of the quail
hcatlon OF the teachers now employed in
your district, and find them all legally
qualified.
With reference To the comparative an
f1fn1a az .,ar I,.,,l. L., .-l...l / -
ing instruction or for maintaining liscil
pine IN the schoolroom, | would respect
iuily submit that success III these directions
ls 50 much i matter of mere opinion.
that IN all cases of doubt, it would.
think, be proper for the employino
board, or Il majority thereof. to visit the
school and witness for themselves
the methods in use and the practical
results Of the work. Excellence in these
matters is not only a question of degree,
but also one for which no positive critc
ron can be set up. 1t can only, | think.
be determined fairly, in any particular
case, by comparison with the work of
Others. assumed to be satisfactory.
have some reasons for believing that
the actual working capacity of teachers is
too often decided upon arbitrarily land
sometimes precipitately) by those who
assume To judge, without reference To any
definite standard of merit, and moreover
without consulting a sufficient number of
instances, or an experience extending over
a sufficient time to furnish the data
for a fair and impartial criti-
cism. The time which have
been able tn devote to this especial work.
IN Difference to the request of the board,
has been too limited 10 warrant u final
opinion in individual cases, which posi-
bly, might operate to the prejudice of
worthy persons in your employment. A
careful comparison of the work carried on
III the different school rooms certainly i'm
presses n with the fact that there are
different degrees Of excellence in teachers.
As might be expected. the best models
are generally found 10 be the products of
long experience in special lines of work.
with proper allowances on the score of
experience and other circumstances.
think | am justified in saying that during
my visits to the school | have not obsery-
ed any Deficiencies 50 pronounced rs to
call for special condemnation, such as
demand any immediate action on the part
OF the board. If any such deficiency
Is suspected to exist, ! doubt not that
the board, by the exercise of the same de
gree of penetration which has heretofore
distinguished. its action in the selection Of
teachers. will be able to detect their short
comings before any serious dctrimcnt ac-
crucs to the district.
1t appears to the writer that a fair way
to Judge of the merits of n teacher wnmII
be to consider the general results Of his
or her work. If the work of the room.
IN the prescribed course of study ion n
gwen time, is duly ACCOMPLISHED, if the
class average, las shown by the periodical
examinations is respectable. and the
grade maintained, then. should presume.
that the teacher. however opinions may
differ ~ TO her capacity for school govern
ment, has, on the whole, succeeded and
given honest work for her money.
| suspect that some of the patrons of
our school are Inadvertently too exacting
IN their expectations in che matter Of
school discipline. 1t is easy to mistake
the true scope and to over estimate the
probabilities Of school government. 1t is
the misfortune OF all human institutions
to tall short OF absolute perfection. 1t is
perhaps one OF the highest achievements
OF genius To reduce the faults of any com
pleT organization to the minimum, That
our graded school has approximated in
some ialr degree to practical excellence
that it has done, and is doing satisfactory
work-that it compares favorably with
other similar institutions-arc prop
ositions that | believe will be generally
admitted by those cOnycrsant with the
facts. .
In reference to the general manage
ment OF the school by the principal find
much ta commend, The course of study
for the present term AZ laid out by him for
the various grades and subdivisions, seems
judicious and well considered. The pro-
Dcrty of the district * vol utng.r,-a1 anil