The record-union., 1899-12-27

the technical side of education ana they
simply play the part of the bull in the
china shop in determining the peda-
gogic qualifications of teachers, In as
Signment and classification, in the ar
rangement of courses of study In
placing the school upon professional
basis and encouraging the activity of
teachers professional ambition, the au-
thority of the School Trustee has, as
q rule. exerted a paralyzing influence
for evil, quenching as it has the profess
slonal zeal of teachers and encourag-
ing unprofessional methods of advance
ment. IN short, We need a new law
which shall preserve for the local
boards every authority which does not
deal with the professional and techni-
cal side of education, but distinctly CIV
ing these problems to an officer of SUI
pervison who in turn must present cre-
dentials of some kind which shall guar
antee a high degree of competency in
scholarship, broad pedagogic insight
into the educational problems of the
day and practical methods for their So
luton.
We have a proof of the value of SUI
pervision within certain limitations
which Will be later pointed out, In the
marvellous development in scholarly
efficiency and in the growth in number
OF the high schools of the State during
the past fifteen years, under the ac-
crediting supervision of the State Uni:
versity. Before that time, the high
schools were a mere handful in num-
Der, their efficiency as rule poor, and
their corps of teachers often lacking
in requisite scholarships. The tone of
these schools suffered from diseases
comparable to those now found in our
elementary schools without supervision.
The various departments of the Uni
-versity took up the matter in neces-
sary self defense, in order to secure a
class of students better prepared to I'M
dertake college work. The work of i'm
provement necessarily was within the
narrow lines leading to the university
entrance requirements. But the results,
within the scope of this purpose have
been electrical and have demonstrated
beyond question the important value of
supervision. There are now over 100
high schools in the State scattered in
such proportion that nearly every ham,
let is within reach of these advantages
The character of the teachers, in point
of scholarship, has been UNNECESSARILY
lifted. In thoroughness and efficiency
of the work performed, 1 think it may
safely be stated that the average high
school graduate of to-day has had the
advantage of courses in science, his
tory and literature at least, which are
the equal, if not the superior. to the
courses offered in the university COL
lege of letters twenty years ago.
SnnPrViCinn MI h6d h c Inn
provement. But, as stated, this pro-
gress has been within narrow lines.
1t has only affected courses leading to
college entrance requirements, and on
the other hand, it has prevented the in
PRODUCTION into the high schools of
courses of training not at present lead
ing to the university Our high schools
are merely university preparatory
schools. but as such they are admir-
able. The university Professors as spe-
ciaiists in subjects, not in general peda-
gogy, have exerted valuable academic
influence within the limits of their
subjects, but naturally they have over
looked those pedagogic considerations
which make for the broad development
of the whole man, who is frequently
bigger than the college measures. We
and place our secondary schools upon
pedagogic basis. The curricula of our
secondary schools must be determined
from the standpoint of the psychology
ical tendencies of the adolescent, and
from the standpoint of the intellectual.
industrial, commercial, social and po-
litical needs of the world which the
graduate shall enter. The present col
arfr re ma nj
are narrow and more or less the arti-
fetal production of pedantic tradition.
Secondly, while the university accredit-
ing system has done a noble work in the
pioneer stage of high school develop
ment, the work has now grown too
large longer to be adequately handled in
this manner. We need a system of
State supervision, in which the uni
versity as a whole and not its individ-
ual departments shall have a modify
ing, but not controlling influence.
The supervision of high schools is a
judicial function and must be kept free
from personal or corporate ends, such
asthe selling of text books prepared
by university Professors, locating uni
versity graduates in positions. compell-
ing courses of study to meet demands
pressing alternative but reputable
methods of teaching, making high
schools mere feeders to the univer-
stiles. Practical history of the matter
has shown that the university accred-
iting system has inevitably gravitated
toward many of these evils.
In still another feature, the effects of
rapid growth of the educational idea
in California shows its marks. l refer
to the management of State institu-
tions-the Normal Schools, the insttu-
tons for the deaf, the dumb. the blind.
the feeble-minded and the reform
schools. All of these departments are
highly specialized in their purpose, re-
quiring for their efficient management,
the direction of specialists in these var
ious fields. A reform school which is
not directed by men who are not only
specialists in the field of criminology
and familiar with all that is now being
done in the best schools of the world
for this class of young unfortunates,
becomes curse to the State. The same
is true no less of all these special State
institutions. And as a matter of fact
we all know that either at present or
at some time in the past nearly every
one of these State institutions suffers or
has suffered from diseases Of political
management Some vigorous leglsla-
ton is needed to rescue them. Such
legislation must he in the line of eda-
cational supervision directed by some
organization protected from political in
reference