Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-04-05
SUPERVISORS QUALIFICATIONS AND
DuTIES

TIE meeting called by State Superin
tendent of Education Palmer, and held at
the town room here on Friday morning
last, brought out most of the members of
the county board of education and nu-
merous others interested. Among the
former were Hon. w. ). Wright of Walt
ham, f. W. futile. Esq, of Nergennes,
Edrick Adams of PantOn, j. II. b. Will
kins of Ferrisburgh, >. b. NJ. Cowes of
New Haven. O. f. llulburt of Ripton II.
L. Churchill of Goshen, DIR. Howard of
Shorelam, DR.. Blai>dell of Bridport, j.
+. Weeks of Salisbury, L. p. ID. Mat
thews of Cornwall. The several candi-
dates for supervisor, with their friends
aud some of their enemies, were also on
hand.
Superintendent Palmer called the meet
ing to order. The character of the men
chosen to make up the boards of educa-
ton in the several counties showed, he
said that the people regard the subject
as one requiring attention. No mistake
should be made in the choice of Supervi-
sors, for on the character of these men
| depends the success of the new law. If
mere scholarship were demanded in the
supervisor, the selection would be easy;
but it isn't. Executive ability of high
order is necessary The law says that
he is to give advice to teachers, that is,
is to be a teacher of teachers. He must
also stir up public interest in the schools
Too little attention is given to them by
parents and voters. The supervisor is to
call the teachers together and train them.
A scholar, and only Il scholar, can do this
part of the work etlectually. But it will
need executive ability, too, in order that
the voters may be led to consolidate dis
l. t,.;n al la.
| Improvement of the schools may demand.
lie must be man in whom the people of
the county have implicit confidence, or
he can do nothing that will count for the
betterment of educational facilities.
| President Brancrd was called upon, as
one of the trainers of the law. to say
something about it. The aim of the COM
mission in making provision for county
supervisors was, he said, to secure better
superintendent. 1t wa, universally con-
coded that this was the one thing the
schools needed. 1t seemed to the COM
mission that if the very best man in the
county were put over the schools-a man
not only of education and tact. but also
of enthusiasm-much might be accom-
plished Tor their good. Too good Il man
couldn't be found. The work of visiting
schools should be more thoroughly done.
|
county, and the man who can visit them
and make his visits count must be one who
can quickly see wherein things are going
wrong and how to remedy them. The
supervisor has good deal Of power in
his hands. He cannot dictate whom the
prudential committees shall hire as teach
ers, but he may prevent incompetent
persons from teaching by refusing to
grant them certificates. In this and in
other ways lie has almost the whole con-
| troll of the small army of teachers in the
county. He can call them together for in
| Struction: and as we cannot always have
for teachers normal school graduates,
these gatherings must give the teachers
the training they have not had. a man of
tact, Il wise man, can make his influence
felt in every nook and corner of the
county and can do Il vast amount of good
to the primary schools-the schools most
needing help. The choice of supervisor
should therefore be made carefully and
conscentiously. without reference to
personal prejudice or local pride.
Rev. NJ. c. Stebbins of Cornwall was
called out and made Il rousing speech.
prefacing it by saving that he was not II
candidate for the supervi>orship. lie
had, he said, been engaged during many
years in educational work of all grades.
and since coming to Vermont had been
sadly impressed by the condition of our
schools. Vermont. standing high in
other respects, j. steadily falling behind
every other Northern State in thiS matter
of education. lie hailed with JOY the
appointment of the commission and the
enactment of The new law. 1t would he
easy for the right man ~ supervisor to
, increase the efficiency of our schools loo
per cent without Increasing their cost
but the work must be done bv some one
who knows how to do it. The super
: visor must be an educatOr-one who
could take the place of any teacher and
, do well in that place. He must he able
, to tell on entering school house wheth-
+ er the studies are properly taught. wheth-
er the teacher has the faculty for cla>-iti
cation and spends her time to the best
! advantage. We want for this place the
man of the widest educational experience
I obtainable-one thoroughly compel
ent to advise and help teachers. The
members of the board of ed cation can
not make too serious a matter of tie
choice Of supervisor.
+. q. Hunt, Esq, of New Haven spoke
briefly, but to the point. Any man VIII,
could drive IA horse could visit schools
y he said, and the supervisor must be abb,
, to do something more than that liz
e gave his notions of what Il supervise
= should be.
Mr.. l.. w. Peet of Cornwall gave
t stirring speech. in which he urged the
/. need OF enthusiasm in The supervisor.
!, Further remarks were heard from q. !
> llulburt of Riptou, Rev. +. G.. Thompson
of Middlebury. Superintendent Palmer
r l.. \. IIa>Seltine of Bristol and others.