Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-12-25
SCHOOL INTEREST NO. 6.

! | desire now to say something in
reference to the custodians of our
public schools, the school officers.
First the office of Superintendent
will claim my attention. Each
county has its Superintendent who
is at the head of the public schools
of that county; but every Indepen
dent District has its own Superin-
tendent. While these two officers
have much in common as to their
duties and qualifications, yet a City
Superintendent, from the nature OF
his field of operations, has some
special duties to perform, and must
necessarily possess higher order of
scholarship.
/ In this communication shall con-
fine myself to speak of the Superln-
tendent of the Martinsburg Indepen-
dent District, and leave the consid-
eratioa of the County Superinten-
dent and the qualifications both
must possess in common, for my
next communication.
The patrons and friends of the
City Schools not being IN possession
of copies of the law governing the
Independent District of Martins
burg, think it is eminently proper,
that | should, in this connection,
furnish for publication that part
enumerating the duties OF the Su-
perintendent:-
The office of Superintendent of schools hav-
| Ing been created for the purpose of securing
system, uniformity and thoroughness in the
| course of study; uniform and salutary disci-
pine in the schools carefully guarding and
| preserving the public property; and being a
medium of Communication between teachers
parents and others, and the Board of Educa-
| ton II is hereby ordered by the Board of Edu-
cation of the School District OF Martinsburg
| that the Superintendent OF Schools for said
District shall be governed by the following
general rules:
LIST. He shall, under the advice and dlree-
/ tlon OF the Board. have general supervision of
| the schools OF the District lie shall devote
/ himself faithfully 10 the duties ofhis Office as
enJoined by law and by this Board. lie shall
keep regular office hours, other tan school
! hours, for the convenience of parents, teachers
and others desiring to confer with him in rela-
l tion TO school matters.
End. He shall visit the schools as often as
his other duties will permit, and give special
! attention TO the organization, classification,
discipline and graduation of the schools. and
see that the rules and regulations OF the
I Board, relating thereto, are duly observed
and report all infractions of the same, coming
/ to his knowledge TO the Board.
I 3rd. lie shall carefully note the modes of
government and instruction pursued by each
I OF the teachers, and the qualities and adapta-
ton of each for the place assigned them by
! the Board, and when ever he doubts the quail
I fcation, efficiency, or fitness of a teacher he
shall report the same to the Board.
4th He shall inspect the grounds, buildings
! furniture, apparatus, and other property OF
the schools, and report to the Board when re-
| pairs or essential improvements are required
ham
or yentilating the school-rooms are not favor
able to health and the physical development
| of the pupils.
| 5Ih. In case of temporary absence of
i teachers or principals, he may, with consent
of the Board, appoint substitute for the time
9th. He shall devise and report to the Board
/ a system of blanks for registers and reports
/ having charge of their distribution to teachers
and return by them, and prescribe rules for
keeping the same. THESE blanks shall be
specially adapted to show the scholarship and
actual attendance of each pupil in the school,
the number OF those who are constant and
uniform in attendance, and of those who are
not, together with the degree of irregularity.
he shall also, investigate the causes of truan-
cy and irregularity on the part of pupils. and
suggest such checks and remedies as he may
| deem feasible and proper.
9TH. He shall furnish to teachers all text
4 books, stationery and reference books needed
| BY them or the pupils, on such terms as the
| Board may direct.
Sth. He shall be medium of communica-
| ton between teachers, parents, and other
| persons and the Board but in all cases of diff
| ference between him and the teachers par
! ents, and other persons, an appeal may be
made to the Board through any member
/ thereof: provided that this shall not prevent
the Board from considering and disposing of
| any matter coming to the knowledge, by other
| means than through such appeal.
| 9th. During the school year he shall hold
| stated meetings at least once month of the
principals and teachers, for the purpose of
comforting with them on methods of instrue-
| ton, discipline and other matters relating to
their duties and the interests of the schools,
and it shall be the duty of the principals and
teachers the District to attend such meet
| ings whenever practicable. A roll of all the
| principals and teachers shall be kept on which
| it shall be noted the attendance and absence
of those whose duty it is to attend such meet
| ingS.
| 10th. He may, whenever he shall deem it
advisable, call together the principals OF the
schools of the District. to consult and advise
with them upon matters of interest to the har-
| monious working of the school. and to con-
slider, as an advisory committee, any questions
which may be referred to them by the Board.
18th. He shall promptly attend to all cases
of discipline which may properly be reported
to him. or come to his knowledge, and dispose
of the same, as far as practicable, in the man
ner prescribed by the rules of the Board, or
| sanctioned by law.
18th He shall keep the Board Informed of
the condition of the schoc OF the District, and
| shall, as occasions requires report to the Board
for approval such bylaws, rules and rugula-
lions for the government, discipline and man
agement of the schools, as he may deem expe-
dent Besides the reports required of him by
law he shall, as often as his Judgment may
abstract from the reports of teachers prinei-
pals and record of his own official acts, and
report the same to the Board with such other
statistics and Information may be deem
ed necessary for reference or publication.
18th. At the last regular meeting of the
Board in January and June every year, he
shall present report, giving as particular
a view as may be of the progress and condi-
ton of each and of all the schools, and sug-
costing such measures as in his judgment
may be material to their Improvement
18th. He shall endeavor to acquaint him.
sol mi cab rfa
of other cities, and with such principals and
methods of organization, discipline and in
struction in public schools, to the end that
all the children in the schools of the Dis
trict may obtain the best education which
such other duties as the best interests of the
schools may require, as the Board may
from time to time direct.
From the above array of duties it
may readily be seen what require
ments are exacted from the Super
intendent. But be it remembered
that these requirements were formu-
lated on the basis of making the
Superintendency an office separate
and apart from teaching. At the
outset when the Independent Dis
trict was formed, a Superintendent
as such was employed at a salary
Git mistake mott of $50 a month.
But for economical purposes this
feature was changed after a short
experience, and the principal of the
Grammar School was invested with
this office. For six years | acted in