Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-12-06
Written for the Register.l
HOW 1T CAN BE DONE.
The County Supervision of Schools.

perlntendency OF Schools throughout
the State is the subject of much COM
plant
The cause of it is charged to The
small salaries paid for such work. No
one can devote his whole time to the
work and hence the Office is generally
taken to supplement some other IN
come.
The Superintendent cannot visit his
schools more than once during the
year and cannot give more than one
or two hours to each school.
Hence, to accomplish anything ne
must remember that efficiency IN any
work is conditioned upon defniteneSS Of
aim and purpose.
Therefore, before he starts out upon
his annual visits to the schools, he
should determine in his own mind
what is the object to be attained, what
kind of information is most needed and
the best method of obtaining it, how
can he make his visits most beneficial
to all concerned.
To find out his duties he turns to
the school law, sec. 54, and he finds
there the following points:
l. Note the branches taught and
the methods of instruction used.
2. Acquaint himself with the char
acter and condition of the school,
noting any deficiencies in government
classification or methods Of instruction
in the several branches.
8. Note the character and condition
of the schoolhouse and grounds, the
suficiency or insuficiency of furniture,
fixtures and appurtenances.
4. Make such suggestions to the
teachers and school officers as may ap-
pear necessary for the good of the
schools and as may be conducive to
the comfort and progress of the pupils.
Lastly. Since the Schedule and
Manual has been adopted, note how it
is handled by the teachers, and wheth-
er its provisions have been fully and
honestly put into practice and wheth-
er it has proven beneficial to the
school.
These hints the school law gives to
the Superintendent.
HOW TO CARRY THEM OUT
Is question for him to solve, and few
hints on this point may help him along
and blaze the way:
a. A few questions put to the teach
er, a close observation of the recita-
tions of the classes called out and the
forms of the questions put by the teach
er to the pupils, will soon enlighten
the Superintendent on the first head.
b. The hearing of few classes re-
cite, observation of the movement oi
classes to recitation and return, the
order of classification and the number
of classes, will give all the informa-
tion wanted upon the second head.
C. An inspection and faithful use Of
eyes and nose, will satisfy the Super
intendent upon the third head.
d. Whatever suggestions the Super
intendent should have to make, should
be made privately and not before the
school.
Lastlv. Is the Schedule and Manua
properly used2
This is the most difficult question
and requires many inquiries and
close observation on the part OF th'
Superintendent and these varied at thu
several schools.
1t is first necessary that the Super
intendent should thoroughly study tn
Schedule and Manual and make him
self familiar with all its details ant
carry them before his mind S eye whel
he visits each school. He shoul'
formulate beforehand some plan TO
grouping together (grading) the severa
branches enumerated in each Section
under the several "Grades" depart
ments) and for grouping together (class
ifying) the pupilspursuing said groups
Having done this, he can then intelll
gently go to work to find out wha
the teachers are doing with it. b
judicious questions he can learn whetf
er the teacher has formulated any pia
| to carry out the provisions and n