Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-03-26
REGARDING SCHOOL SUPERVISION.

REGARDING SCHOOL SUPERVISION.
Supervsion-A Thoughtful Paper Worth
Careful Reading.
Principal G. H. Osgood OF Yarmouth
port, Mass, sends the TINES the following
regarding efficient school supervision:
Editor of the TIMES: was very much
interested in the article which appeared in
recent issue of your paper relating to
the public schools aud their supervision.
All of us who have been educated in
the public schools and the public expect
that we will always have good word to
say for them.
/. They are the poor mans friend. The
mass of people are and ever have been
poor. Life for them has been struggle
Education is leveller, it puts the poor
mans son into possession of power, and
lifts him from the low plane of ignorance,
develops his reason, and helps him to
begin life more nearly on the plane with
the rich mans son.
g. They are the opportunity for the rich
man. The best gift to an ambitious boy
is an education, whereby he may be able
to help himself. To my mind education is
the surest preventive to the evils of pow
erty, for it renders the individual indepen-
dent and sef-reliant. A town should
rather by far build scho ol-houses than
almshouses. The best means for tn,
widest possible distribution Of wealth is
our public school system.
8. They are liberty safeguards. A free
people must be an intelligent people. Uni
versal education is necessary to maintair
govern ment " for the people" and "by
the people," The public schools are for
reached the masses. If our republic is to
endure it must be by the bene6cent work
of the public school.
| A. They are the training schools OF char
acter. The public schools foster industry,
punctuality, order, neatness, regularity,
thoroughness, respect for authority and
obedience to law They awaken self
respect, and call out respect for the
rights of others; awaken love for truth,
the beautiful, the good, and God, thus
developing robust, manly characters and
fitting the students torlives of happiness and
usefulness. The que ton that should con-
tinually come to each lover of education
is, ''Are the schools doing what they
should and is there anything that can b.
done so that they may do better work P"
think you will agree with me that thorough
supervision would make our public schools
more effective.
In many lines of business superin
tendent is Indispensable. His business is
to keep men at work, see that the work
IS done properly, suggest easier and shorter
ways of working. He is about most OF
the time. Has nothing else to do. Thus
everything runs to advantage and all that
is done is well done. Why will not the
same argument work in our school system ?
There is too much of what we call aim
less teaching, too much keeping school
rather than teaching it. This is due quit
largely to lack of proper supervision. A
large amount of time is wasted in school
by lack of method, some little trouble il
discipline and knowledge of scholars which
can be lie neliel by the uperintendent, il
he does his duty. Thus you get m
return tor the money expended. WI,
, effective, and judicious supervision will q
more to inspire and encourage teachers
than any other agency.
1t is the supervision not of machinery
nor the compilation of statistics, but Of
E the character OF the instruction which Gu
teachers give. Too often the superinten-
, dents are burdenel with details which
should never be put upon them They are
reuurei to act as book-keeper, watch the
, ianltor supervise the erection OF buildings
: and responsibilities which are entirely for
eign to the real work which should occupy
heir time and command their energies.
They should supervise the work Ct teach
. ing, be competent to Judge OF the value OF
m ethods and ready and willing to give
inspiration and encouragement They
should know what good teaching is, anu
t b. given power to secure good teachers
. aud then faithfully direct their work.
can see little good which comes from
the system already in vogue in our schools.
| am not criticising any person. but would
commend what has been done; the system
: is what is faulty. A visit once term
amounts to very little, when one desires to
! Judge of the teachers methods and disci-
t pin e. l have taught under both systems
and can truly say the system OF proper
supervision places the schools on higher
| plane. keeps the grades equal, and gives
, both scholars ami teachers bet er chance
, look forward to visit from INV superin-
tendent, which cones about twice Or three
times month. Then | learn what other
schools are doing, how my school stands,
where it is weak; thus l can pursue my
, work intelIigently.
Look at this question sensibly, citizens
of Belows Falls, and do not rest easy
until you are employing man who can
give his whole time and energies TO raising
the standard of education. You will find
YOU can get better returns for money
invested.
Unsettled Milk Fight.