New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-11
NrPERINTENDENT AND TEACHERS.

The Tribune recently commented ~ some
length upon the admirable report regarding the
organization II city school systems made 10 the
National Educational Association by n subcom-
mittcc ~ The Committee Of Fifteen appointed by
the association about two years ago. We made
NO mention. however. Of one most important
feature ~ the report namely. that dealing with
the character ~ the teaching force and the
quality Of the instruction given in the public
schools The subcommittee rightly regards this
~ a subject II paramount interest and impor-
lance 10 every one intent on clcvating The gen
oral standard ~ our schools and improving the
work done IN them. The tone of this part OF the
report may be- Judged from these sentences: "A
"clty school system may be able 10 Withstand
some abuses on the business side OF It's admins
"iraiion and continue 10 perform its function with
measurable success. but wrongs against the
INSTRUCTION must. in little time prove fatal.
"'rhc strongest language is none too strong here.
Tho safety ~ the Republic, the security Of
american citizenship, are At stake
IL Is the unanimous opinion Of the wcllquali-
fed supcrintondcnts and educators who sign the
report that the whole matter Of instruction must
be- placed in the hands Of superintendent.
with independent powers and adequate author
determine course Of study for the schools and
TO develop an expert teaching force, AMI who is
charged with full responsibility to make the in
struction professional and scientific. Whether
appointed by the Board of Education or 10y the
school Director with The consent of two-thirds
or three .fourhs of the School Council (thc latter
being the Cleveland SYSTEM. the supcrintend-
cnt should be- "a person literally educated pro
Occasionally trained, one who knows what good
teaching IS. but is also experienced in admin
"istration in touch with public affairs and in
sympathy with popular feeling" The supcrln-
tcndcnt, II is recommended. should be appointed
for Il term Of five or ten years. so that his work
may be subject To public review and cxamina-
ton Mt stated periods and should have power
"to appoint from nm eligible list all assistants
land teachers authorized by the board, ana I'M
'1mtcd authority to assign them 10 their re-
"spcctivc positions and rcasslgn them or remove
"thcm from the force at his discretion"
The high standard for teachers which the sub
committee holds in mind is shown by its state
ment that 1.-THE work Of putting a large teaching
force upon professional basis. OF making the
"tcaching scientific and capable of arousing
minds TO action, Is so difficult that layman
"can scarcely appreciate it," What the report
says on this subject Is thoroughly sound and
good, and is deserving Of careful study by all
who hold official relations with any public school
system 1t il not to be assumed that the ideal
here raised has been anywhere attained. The
faults of the school systems in many Of our
large cities have been incsively and forcibly
pointed out In the studies Of Mr.. J. NJ. Rice who
has done much 10 direct public attention to the
need Of Improvement and reform. Every one
Interested I'm public education must rejoice that
the superintendent Of the country, speaking
through n thoroughly wcll-qualitied committee,
have taken such high ground on this important
question. The vital matter In any system OF
education Is the work done in the classroom by
the class teacher TO the improvement Of this
work every energy should be directed. and the
superintendent who is charged with the duty Of
bringing about such Improvement should be free
from hampcring and restrictive conditions
whether political or otherwise. II not. he cannot
be held responsible for the results produced.
The theory of school superintendent with prac-
tically unlimited power 10 build up IN expert
teaching force is In consOnancc with the prin-
cpc Of concentration of authority in municipal
government which has taken so firm a root in
many OF our cities in recent years