The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-11-01
THE SCHOOL SUPERVISORS
ANOTHER HEARING ON THE NEED
OF THEM IN THE CITY SCHOOLS.
Interesting Questioning OF Supersn-
tehdent Kendall by Aldermen II Dewe1l-
Interruptions by Members of tho Com-
mittee Objected To--Thc Reduction OF
tho Number of superviEors-Another
Heartu q lG- lOrrow Might
,aring l!S-morrow Night.

tho Number of supervisors-Anothe
| Hearing I!G-morrow Night
| The special committee Of inquiry into
the system OF supervisors In the city
schools held another public hearing last
night. Rector Fox Of Hopkins gram
mar school, who has given the commit
| tee some interesting information at pre-
vious hearings, was unable to be pres
ent. At the opening of the hearing Su-
perintendent Kendall and Mr.. Asher, III
| response to a question by Chairman
Staub, explained that in the estimate
of the average cost per child of supervi-
sion the pupils Of the high schools had
been omitted, as had also the salaries
since those principals were not assisted
by the supervisors and because the s,l-
pervisors had nothing to do with the
high schools
The first citizen to be heard was
Thomas Roche, who favored the super
visory system and said that he thought
that pupils in the school were benefited
by it. Nature study, he thought, was
a valuable subject of study for primary
pupils.
Anthony Carroll was next heard. He
objected to being limited to fifteen min
utes' talk and said that if the rule was
to be applied to him he would devote
his time to discussion of the super
visors instead of asking questions Of
the members of the board of education.
Mr.. Chase of the committee took occa-
sion to remark in reply to this that the
time of the committee had been already
taken up by things not pertinent to the
subject of the inquiry, and that what
had been stated to the committee at its
hearing week ago had not affected him
in the least. Mr.. Carroll then stated
his views and said that he opposed all
the supervisory system, but was espe-
cially opposed to having supervisors of
sewing and cooking. He didn't believe
in spending money for anything not
useful, and that the Signs of the times
show that all the girls when they come
from school now want to have servants
instead of acting as servants them
selves, and that the parents Of most Of
the girls in the high school hired dress
makers, who came to their houses and
did work. He therefore did not think
that the instruction in sewing and cook
ing was useful.
While Mr.. Carroll was on the stand
Superintendent Kendall, in reply to a
question by Mr.. Chase, said that the
supervised all the teachers
in all grades Mr.. Asher, in reply to
Mr.. Carroll said that all the supervis-
ors except the primary supervisor, did
teaching and therefore could not prop
erly be classed as supervisors and so
were not within the scope of the inves-
tigation.
Mr. Carroll asked: IF you have kept
Professor Jepson as supervisor because
of his thirty-two years service in the
schools, why didn't you keep all the old
principals and old superintendent"
Mr. Chase, for the committee, ruled
this question out and said that the COM
mittee was not inquiring as to that mat
ter, but las to the advisability of per-
petuating the supervisory system"
Ex-Alderman j. d. Dewell next APP
had brought the figures concerning the
Of the average cost of super
vision per pupil which had been dis
,ussed at the previous hearing and
which the superintendent said that he
would submit at the next hearing. Mr..
Kendall replied that Clerk Hewlett of
the board of education had informed
him that it would take him some time
TO prepare the desired figures. Mr..
Dewell then referred to the question
which he had asked just before the close
If the previous hearing and which had
been ruled out. The question was as to
whether the reduction in the number of
supervisors had been made for the good
If the schools or because Of public opin-
on. Mr. Dewell asked if the committee
still desired to rule the question out
Mr. Chase--"Oh, yes. That has moth
ng to do with the question, but If you,
lrop off the last part it will be admit
ed"
Mr. Dewell then asked Mr.. Kendall:
Has this reduction been benefit to
he schools?"
Mr.. Kendall--"No; I think not.
.hink that it would be better to have
wo supervisors in drawing and two in
sewing"
do you think that it has been det-
'iment?"
"It is pretty early to say. We have
)een in session only few weeks, but
should say that in as large school
system as this, experience has shown
hat more than one supervisor in draw
ng is essential. We could use to ad-
a number Of supervisors or
eachers in sewing"
you say that on account of the
hort time Of the school session YOU
re not able to say?"
I'VE have one man in place OF two
'ersons and how efficient he is going
o be it is pretty early to tell"
"The question I want to set at is
whether the reduction of supervisors
las been detriment to the schools
ere."
Il should say it has"
"I wish that you would give me your
pinion as to how serious this detriment
s."
"That is not an easy question"
Mr.. Chase-"Mr. Dewell, ask YOUR
elf that question. and if you think