The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-09
II He Is Not the Man for the Place he
Will Be Very Glad TO Help
to Get Another t.4 =

ton to drop all proceedings until he
prepare report on the needs Of the
schools according to his judgment.
The council and board of education
then in existence were both to leave the
matter for new council and board. but
finally acceded to Professor Search's
wishes, expecting to have presented to
them, however. that little re port.
Professor Search had the plana in his
head evidently. for the report was not
submitted until the new council and
board OF education came in, and then it
was altogether different from what was
expected. 1t came in the shape eli q
book. Manual One it is called. This
manual idea is evidently pet scheme
with Professor Search, for in Manual
One he promises others as follows:
2. Motives. January 10th.
3. Working directions February les
d. Health, february LIST.
5. Music Ma oh 1st
q. Literary culture, April 10Th.
z. Science, September LIST.
g. Mathematics, September 1st
8. Language, September LIST.
10. Kindergartens. tei f-t
IL. Industrial training.
IL. Child study.
And others.
A few extracts from manual One"
will serve to show the nature of the
work and the ideas OF improving the
city schools of Los Angeles which Pro-
fessor Search entertains:
In regard to the Offices of the school
department he says:
The present Offices are entirely made.
quate for the work in hand, and are OBJ
jectionabls in location and arrangement.
There are no means of accommodating
the large number of persons having les
climate business with the department.
There is no privacy for the hearing OF
special cases. The superintendent is
frequently compelled to hear. in the
presence of many, the statements made
by both patrons and teachers under cir
cumstances of great embarrassment.
The location of the present offices is OBJ
jectionable because OF the immense
mum Der of loafers and others, who, hav-
ing little legitimate business to present,
vet interrupt the work of the Office with
demands for courteous reception. Again,
| the Office is lacking in dignity of equip
ment. There is nothing in the accessory
| appointments to designate the place as
the study and workshop OF the head Of
the schools. More than thia, under cir
cumstances specified, there is no oppor-
| tunity for the consecutive planning and
careful preparation of work expected OF
| the superintendent because of the res
i eponsbilities of his office.
| / therefore recommend that immedi-
| ate provision be made for the offices in
location of less interruption. Such
Offices should contain: General office for
! the superintendent, private office for the
/ superintendent. room sufficient in size
| for the superintendent'B meetings with
his teachers, Office for the clerk OF the
board of education, room for meetings
of the board, and small etoreroom for
! supplies necessarily kept at the offices.
These rooms should be furnished and
equipped in keeping with the character
| of the work.
recommend that the holding of the
meetings of the board of education in o
miscellaneous audience room be discon-
tinued. No directory Of bank or other
business corporation could work we'll
under such circumstances. The holding
OF meetings before q general audience
tends to the encouragement OF Caucuees
| and iactional division. The member
ostensibly addressing his colleagues is in
reality expressing himself for outside
effect. The whole procedure is lacking
in that essential unity and dignity that
should characterize the efforts OF thoae
desiring to work together in earnest
consultation and cooperation for the
wiae direction OF our schools. The peo-
pie are entitled 20 an intimate knowl-
edge OF the transactions OF the board.
For this there is abundant opportunity
through the presence of reporters and
persons having legitimate business with
the board but there ia no reason why
curiosity eeekers, gossip moDgers and
lobbyists should be permitted to use the
meetings of the board of education as a
means OF cheap entertainment and
questionable practice.
alec ask that the superintendent be
permitted to appoint private secretary
! to himself. There never has been, and
are now, no records of the educational
department. The present means of
reaching the teachers by communica-
tions is too GLOW. The clerk of the board
of education, in order TO keep hia de-
partment in perfect order, has all he
can do, There should be some peraon
always present, while the superintend-
emit is visiting schools or preparing work,
10 meet patrons, to arrange for inter
views and TO announce results, as we'll
t5 W p0IlOiA ioPoAsAhe 0uhiSos
The time OF the superintendent and his
deputy is TOO valuable to be placed on
work of this character
Such an appointment. because of cer-
tain specific qualifications desired,
should be left to the superintendent l
beg also to commend to your atten-
| ton that economy in service and the
beat attendant results demand that ali
Office appointments, including this clerk
OF the board, should be made upon
nomination of the superintendent.
Such ie the custom in San Francisco and
other leading schools, and is also the
case with every other city and county
office in Los Angeles excepting in the
school department.
In reference to teachers, Prof Search
save, among othsr things:
All nominations OF teachers should be
made by the superintendent, eubiact to
the action OF the teachsrs' committed
and the election by the board OF educa-
tior.
After election teachere ehould be as
signed BY the superintendent, and all
assignments should be auhject to his
tranzfor and adjustment. Tbia would
make many weak places strong, would
place teachnrs Of npeciic qualifications