The record-union., 1891-03-30

the city as should obtain and as would
under proper system. Nor can 1t be
possibly established under superintend-
ence dependent upon political changes,
nor upon system of choosing teachers
dependent very largely upon the personal
influences that may be brought to bear
upon the membership of the Board of
Education.
1t would not only be wise but actual
economy for the board to engage, saving
in some way to do it, thorough practi-
cal wide-awake educator of executive
ability and progressive tendencies with
power to grasp large subjects and the
generalship that qualities the good dis
ciplinarian, to fill position that might
well enough be termed the city principal
ship. Put such man OF woman over
the whole school system ofthe city, make
him or her responsible only to the Board
OF Education, give the official to under
stand that he need not fear to criticise to
point out weaknesses and indicate needs,
no matter whom they may involve, and
In two years time, excellent as they may
be, the schools of Sacramento will be inn
mensely superior to what they now are
The people will then know whether, as
Mr. Miller puts it. they are getting their
moneys worth whether or not we are
1oipr fha hncf that ao,, lxo 1o,o
We violate no condolences when we say
that number of the teachers in our
schools, and some of them foremost. have
repeatedly said that they are aware of de-
fects, that they know of serious ills, that
they are conscious of needed reforms in
our schools, and long have been, and that
they could suggest lines of great improve
ment, but they dare not do so. Any COM
plant may become personal, any sug-
gested reform would pinch in some quar-
ter, any indication of weakness in the
system insures antagonisms, and all these
must be fought out before Board of Edu-
cation upon which there is not even one
gentleman who has made, or possibly
can make the whole system study with
out entirely abandoning his usual voca-
ton. The appointment of such an edu-
cational principal, besides putting the
one hundred and four teachers of the de-
partment upon their mettle, quickening
every energy and giving vigor and life to
every school agency, would relieve the
Board of Education of immense annoy
ance, labor and strain. The Principal
right arm and executive; the board would
supply the motive power, the Principal
would apply it.
1t would be possible by adding a like
| sum to that now expended for q Principal
of primary schools, to secure practical
manager over the whole system, from the
High School to the lowest eighth grade
class; one under whose watchful eye,
trained habit and educated intelligence
every class, teacher and school employe
in the city would be observed, as are the
details and colleges of a university by its
President, or the departments of an
academy by its Principal. There is no
legal obstacle in the way. The Board of
! Education has the right to create such a
principalship; it can make its incumbent
an employe of the board; it has the same
authority to do this that 1t has to name
a Principal of primaries. OF course
the suggestion here embodied will be
antagonized-all progressive ideas are,
at first; it will be opposed by those
who fear the uncovering Of the weak
places in our system; it will not, proba-
bly,, be received kindly by the Principal
of the primaries, nor by teachers who
have so long been Independent of all
headship that they have come to look
upon their authority as invincible. But
in all such things as these the public must
extend the horizon of its view, it must
rise superior to persons and the present,
and act for the great mass of the children
Of the city. In short, the school system
| of Sacramento needs precisely what that
of San Francisco has had in James Dem
man, J. w. Anderson and John SWEET.
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