Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-10-04

pr JOSEPH xcnuRRAN.

tendent in his annual visits. Many
superinteudents are puzzled to make
out Just what their visits are intended
to find out about the schools and
their teachers Some go without any
definite object in view, merely because
the law requires them to visit the
schools once during the year, and so
far as the information they obtain
aids them in making out their annual
report to the State Superintendent,
they could do it as well without the
visits as with them.
The requirement of the law is, HE
shall visit each school once during
the school term and note the course
and method of instruction and the
branches taught, give such directions
in the art of teaching and method
thereof as seems to him necessary or
expedient, so that uniformity in the
course of studies and methods OF in
struction may, as far as practicable,
be secured. He shall acquaint him
self with the character and conditions
of each school, noting any deficiency
in the government of the school, CLASH
fication of the scholars or methods OF
instruction, and make such sugges-
tions to the teachers as may appear
necessary to the good order of the
school and progress of the scholars.
He shall note the character and con-
dition of the school houses, the suffi-
cheney or insufficiency of their furni-
ture and fixtures and make such sug-
gestions to the trustees and boards
of education as shall seem conducive
to the comfort and progress of the
scholars" But, says a Superintend-
ent. How can | do all this? 1t will
take too much time to do this at each
school"
1t will not necessarily take any
more time than is usually given to
such visits. All he will have to do is
to keep open his eyes and ears and use
them.
There are more things that go to
make up good teacher and a good
school. The mere preserving of good
order among the pupils and the hear
ing of recitations from textbooks do
not alone constitute a good teacher
or make successful school.
The Superintendent in his visits
should note the condition of the
fences about the school house and
grounds, the trees and shrubbery in
the ward, the outbuildings and the
outside of the school house. If he
finds palings or planks of, or hang
ing loose from the railing, for the
want OF a nail or two; the trees Scared
up and shrubbery tramped down; the
doors of the outbuildings broken of
and the buildings in an unhealthy
condition; the outside of the school
house disfgured with cuts and pencil
marks, we may conclude that that
teacher cares little for the comfort and
health ofhis pupils or for the public prop
erty in his charge.
If there should be recess while the
Superintendent is present, let him
note the behavior of the pupils about
the building and yard. If he sees
that the pupils run in and out of the
school room, sit up in the windows
kicking the plastering off with their
heels, climb up on the desks, throw
bits of meat and bread upon the floor,
tear up paper and throw the pieces
upon the floor, and that the school
room throughout has an uncleanly
and untidy appearance, he may con-
clude that that teacher gires little atten-
ton to the health, comfort, behavior and
moral training Of his pupils. Cleanliness
is next to Goodness.
While the school is in session, the
Superintendent should watch closely
the teachers manner of calling up his
classes, the promptness Of the pupils
in obeying his calls, his manner OF
asking questions and the character of
the answer received, his efforts to ex-
plain any difficulties in the lessons,
the behavior of the rest of the school
while classes are reciting and how the
| teacher secures order while engaged
in hearing classes recite.
If he sees the pupils come to recita-
ton in noisy and disorderly manner,
that the teacher has to make consid-
cradle effort to preserve order and
prevent confusion, during the move
ment of classes, that while he is hear
ing recitations the rest of the school
are disorderly and the teacher seem
ingly unconscious of any disturbance
in the room, the Superintendent may
conclude that that teacher has has school
under very bad control and that there is alb
solate need Of Improvement or he should
gire it up.
If the teacher in hearing his classes
has to c0nhne himself TO the questions
and answers found in the textbooks
and has to keep his eyes on the page
of the book to see whether a correct
answer is given, and compelhis pupils
to give the exact wording of the book
without regard to its meaning, and
does not question them in terms they
know, to see whether they have a
clear understanding of the subject,
the Superintendent may conclude that
that teacher knors nothing Of the art of
teaching and but little of the subjects taught.
A few practical questions asked of
the pupils will show the Superintend-
ent what knowledge they have gained
of the subject and how the teacher