The record-union., 1891-03-30
Weather Forecast.
NEEDED-sCHooL HEADsu1p.

icy Of continuous sessions and early dis
missal of the High School is of import
ance, because it quickens public thought
concerning the public school system and
enlarges public information upon the
methods which obtain in the city schools.
The last communication in public print
upon the school system is meaty and full
Of suggestion concerning our city schools.
Is it true, as Mr.. Miller very plainly
charges, that there is weakness in the Sac
ramento school system in the matter of
lack of general superintendent? for
this is the gravamen of his charge. We
are inclined to think that his allega-
tions will be found to be we'll grounded.
The City Superintendent is political Of
icer; he is more likely to be wholly un-
fitted as an educator than qualified to
critically supervise the school system.
The office is subject to frequent changes,
and hence its incumbent can neither in
augurate nor carry out reforms that may
be necessary. Nor does the law contem-
plate that he shall supervise as an edu-
Gator. AT the most, he is the clerk of the
Board of Education, and SO far as super
intendence goes he can do little more
than attend to the supplying of the
schools with materials, and keep some
thing of watch and ward over the phys
ical economies of the system.
Our Board OF Education itself rarely
has an educator upon it, and being also a
political body, and subject to frequent
changes, it is seldom qualified to act on
questions of reform with practical knowl-
edge of the working of our system. 1t
thus happens that the schools run along
in old grooves, and if there are in the
department men or women cognizant of
defects and conscious of needed changes,
they have small hope of correcting the
one or introducing the other. They can
do nothing without presenting their plans
and complaints to board, which, as a
rule, is itself untitled by experience,
study of educational systems or long OBJ
servation of educational schemes, to grap-
pie with subjects relating to the improve
ment of the local system and the correc-
tion of its defects.
Keeping in mind that there is no as
sault made upon any of the officials re-
ferred to, as such, and that they do as
f1,ar no "A
under the circumstances, we wish to inn
press upon the public mind the fact that
we have in Sacramento no genuine super
intendence of the schools. We have not
even, as they have in San Francisco, an
educator who acts as inspector. There is a
superintendent of the primary depart
ments. but it is perfunctory in the main,
is not invested with power to put the de-
partment abreast of the times, and like
the offices referred to is more clerical and
disciplinary than educating and progress
i've. The Grammar and the High Schools
are practically independencies; there is
nothing outside of mere physical details
to put them into harmony with each
other, or compare them with other sys-
TENS and thus disclose their defects or
their excellencies.
Let us be clearly understood in this
matter: There is not made upon heads
of departments any assault whatever,
but we do say there is wanting here a
l,nr ,O,,o 81
ing necessary general superintendent;
that there is need for some systematic
generalship over all the schools. Mr..
Miller is certainly right when he con-
cludes that the whole school scheme in
this city runs in grooves, and that there
Is danger in the process; for we have not
the means of knowing, for instance,
whether we are abreast with the age in
educational matters or not. If we are
committing errors, we are constantly re-
peating them, since the most of our
teachers are chosen from our own schools.
1t must be borne in mind that the use
of uniform text books, the observance OF
q stated course of study; the methodical
keeping of a record of credits; the regu-
lar making of reports; the annual gradu-
ations and the occasional and certainly
not educational visitation by members OF
the Board of Education, do not constitute
necessarily sound school system. These
things, however patient, faithful and tai
ented the teachers, are by no means all
the essentials of perfected system. II
We are running in grooves that have else
where been abandoned; if we are repeat
Ing errors by our system of inbreeding,
so to speak, in evolving teachers; if we
are not abreast with the experience of the
day, and if our system lacks in harmony
and vigor and progressiveuess, it is be.
cause it is run as no large business could
be conducted; that is to say, without
head, an intelligence grasping all the de.
tails and their relation to each other, hav.
ing in mind the play of the entire ma.
chinery and every wheel and cog in it
and keeping in view the one great end tc
be obtained, and the most direct and leas
frictional means to it.
For school system in city with
nearly hundred classes, must be some
thing more than mechanically method.
cal it must be harmonious in spirit and
it must have superintendent with
authority to bring every part of the ma.
chinery into full play to reduce friction