The Somerset reporter., 1891-02-26

The question Of School supervision will
come prominently before our people al
the coming town Injecting. As is well
known to all. a new system has been on
trial during the past year. The members
- the School Committee have served
without compensation, and during the
Fall snd Winter terms have employed to
attend 10 the principal psrt of the details
Of supervision. Mr.. NJ. A. Whitney, a
gentleman who was well qualified for the
duties Of the position, having given speci-
~ sindy to the subject Of methods OF
teaching The re alt has been a great
advance In methods of instruction, and a
MARI I'd Improvement in the condition and
efficiency Of our schools
After trying the system for this length
u time, 1t ia the unanimous opinion Of
/ the School Committee that 1t should be
permanently continued In our town. A.
we have said 10 our report sol ut to be is
sued
| school supervision has come to be as much
= profession as teaching. In a small town, with
lev mixed schools the old system Of super
T
may sns~er fairly we'll Blu, in town like ours
| ~here there are fourteen graded and ten or elcN-
| en- ungraded schools in simultaneous session,
there is imperative need OF man Of special
training who can give his whole time aud
thought 10 directing the teachers and looking
out Tor the mutiform details OF school manage
ment This is a matter that long ago ceased
/ to be one Of tvsory. In the cities of this and
other states, the practical work Of supervision
Is performed by superintendent, the commit
tee acting chiefly in an advisory manner, and
| eithout compensation. Many OF the larger
towns Of our State are enjoying the benefits of
| the same plan, having procured special legisla
ton for the purpose. Every where the plan
has been tried 1t has given the best Of satisfac-
ton
In order to give the town the right to
establish this plan Of school supervision,
a special law, prepared under the direc-
ton of the committee, has been enscted
by he Legislature now sitting, and yes
terday received the approval of the Gov
ernor. BY this act IL is provided that the
town, may at any annual municipal cleo
ton hereafter to be held In this town,
elect, at the option of the town, instead
Of the Experimenting School Committee
or supervisor of schools authorized by
law, a school committee Of five persons
who shall serve without compensation /;
year, two to serve two years, and one to
serve three years, or until others are
elected and qualified In theiro stead; the
places OF members whose term expires
being filed from year to year by vote of
the town. 1t further provides that said
committee shall annually, and whenever
q vacancy occurs, elect Superintendent
of Schools, who shall act under their d.
rection, and exercise such Of their pow
ers as they may from time delegate to
him. This superintendent Is to be a
sworn officer of the town.
These are the leading features of the
bill, the full text of which will be read In
town meeting. We earnestly recommend
that the town avail itself of this law, and
thus continue In use the plan OF school
supervision which has been the means of
30 much good to our schools during the
past few months. We should deem 1t a
serious misfortune to the town to take a
backward step at this time. There Is a
provision In the law just passed that the
town may at any time hereafter go back
to the old system. II the conditions should
ever become go changed that 1t Is best
to go back to the old plan, the way will
be open to do SO; but after careful study
Of our schools and their needs, it ia our
opinion that the plan recommended, and
provided for In this law, Is absc lutely es-
sentlal to the present successful man.
agement Of our schools.
Per Order.
s. s, COMMITTEE