The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-01
mr.. PHILLIP; REIIaES
Turns the Office Of Superintendent Of
Sctools Over to His Successor.
THE CHANGES or EIGHT YEARS
Professor Phillips Briefly Outlines the
Work That Has Bccn Done Since lie
Became Superintendent OF tho
Schools of Scranton.


scienticus WORK as superintendent or
the public schools of this city Pro-
fessor George W. Phillips retired yes
terday to make way for his successor,
Professor George Howell. Failing
health made 1t necessary for Mr.. Phil
lips 10 resign and give up the work he
was so enthusiastic in pushing for
ward, and Mr.. Howell was selected as
a worthy successor to him.
The new Superintendent will enter
upon the duties of his Office at once,
although his commission will not ar
rive from harrisburg before Nov. IL.
In the meantime he can perform a.!
the duties pertaining to his office save
signing certificates. Yesterday the re-
tiring superintendent removed his ef-
fects from the Office, in the Municipal
building, that his successor might take
possession az once.
Mr.. Phillips retires from Office with
the satisfaction of knowing that he has
done a great work for the advance
ment of education in Scranton. It's
public schools were never before on
such a high plane of usefulness. He
had much new, and in a sense mission
airy wCrk to do, when he first entered
office, but obstacles were surmounted
one by one. and his successor finds
the road for further advancement made
Straight and plain.
Was Elected In May. 1887.
Mr. Phillips was elected superintend-
ent OF schools in May, 1857, and in the
following month. along with commit
tee of the school board, consisting Of
f. l.. Woimser, John II. Fellows, NJ. j.
Kelly, H. a. Kingsbury and George b.
Thompson, he visited number of cities
of the state to ascertain from personal
observa ton how schools in these cities
were conducted.
"FNrom the experience gained by three
years service in the schools as teacher
said Mr.. Phillips, in conversation with
a Tribune reporter last night ''I'knew
that one great obstacle in the way of
advancement was that the school sys-
tenn of the city needed to be mapped out
upon broader lines. and this could only
be affected by comparison with the
worse done In other cities. Upon the
return of this committee changes were
at one entered upon. which enabled the
board of control to secure more efhcient
service with reduction in the teach
ing corps Of twenty y-scven. lndepend-
ent of the saving of the money to the
school district which was number of
thousand dollars per year, subsequent
wisdom of the step.
"A review of the past eight years OF
my administration is what you want,
you say? Now, that Is somewhat diff
cult owing to the many-sidedness OF the
subject. When you consider that there
was not an individual desk in any
school room, not single improved sys-
tenn Of ventiati ting or heating. not a
number table In a primary room, not
an Cbject to aid the primary teacher
In illustrating her work, you. can
imagine what a herculean task was be-
fore any one looking to the advance
ment of the schools. In the past eight
years twenty school buildings have been
erected, or provided for. at 4 cost of
nearly, or quite, three-quarters Of a
million dollars.
Erection OF the High School.
"To see the erection of our high
school alone is sufficient recompence for
any administration. All our new
buildings are modern in design and well
adapted for the PURPOSES intended.
Just here, let me remark, that with the
expenditure OF such a great amount
of money there has been no whisper
of job. cr corruption.
'Thc schedule of salaries prior to my
term Of office was based upon the grade
taught. That is. the lowest salary was
paid in the primary grade and was in
creased grade by grade. You can read
lily see how this caused a constant
change wheEavre a vacancy occurred,
as each teacher wished to be advanced
for the IS per month difference on sal
airy. The board at Its first or second
annual meeting after my election so ad
justed the schedule that all teachers in
the common school department should
be paid alike according to term of SER
vice, except the lowest, or first prim-
airy grade, where such teacher was paid
an advance over other grades, as more
patience. painstaking work was re-
qu!red. and to offer an encouragement
for teachers to remain in this grade
Then. too. the board saw that 1t was
unjust to make a distinction for equiv
alent service between the male and fe-
male teachers. and now pays both alike
when occupying similar positions
Will the salaries of principals and some
subordinate teachers are too low, yet
every year. for the past eight, teachers
IN some grade, or department, have had
their salaries advanced. / have not
spoken Of the material progress of the
schools. not because that Is of not the
first importance, but because these
changes or improvements are the ones
most readily observed. This brick and
mortar estimate is the one too often to
be applied.
Have Kept Abreast with Advancement.
while ] would speak Of the profess
sional side of the work with some hesi-
tatiOn. yet by comparison, believe the
teachers themselves have kept abreast
with the extreme advancement Year
by year the standard of qualifications
for techers has been raised which
should In time, produce marked i'm
preston upon results obtained In the
schol room. The introduction OF form
study and drawing has produced q
greater change In the broadening and
enlargement of the horizon of both
teacher and pupil than they now, per-
haps, fully realize.
IF teaching is ever to become q pro-
fession 1t must progress along lines
that cannot be successfully carried on
by those not of the cult. Penmanship
in the past two years has been greatly
improved. owing to q change in the sys-
TEN formerly in use. All the branches
OF the school room show more intelli-
gent expression, yet, believe, we must
operate line upon line subject by sub
ject, until the teacher is fully compe-
tent to present every branch required
according to its true Importance and
relation.
"The training school will do its best
work only when adequate and special
preliminary provision is made for those
purposing to enter. With the enlarge
ment of the city, and the enriching of
the course the training school will in
crease more and more in Importance
and usefulness.
1.-THE new high school. under the effi-
cient corps of instructors, will be the
strongest agent in reform all along the
line. AS all roads led to ancient Rome
so the influence Of the high school
should be felt by every teacher and pu-
pill, bringing both to higher apprecia-
fion of what good insfriicfion and a