The San Francisco call., 1899-12-27

@ ~ 90
tury is 10 keep in sight of legitimate
ideals, or TO meet the demands made upon
IL. II was no longer necessary nor de-
sirabe. He contended that the normal
schools should not admit students who
had not completed the course of a high
school or give instruction in any branches
of academic knowledge already covered
by the high schools curriculum. Twenty
years ago II was perhaps pardonable that
the normal schools should receive pupils
from the stage OF grammar school
graduation, for there, were then
located only in the larger cities.
But this was a temporary makeshift,
for the high schools now are easily ca
pable of supplying the normal schools
owing to the persistent survival of the
makeshift, two years of our normal
school course of four years is devoted TO
academic work, attempting TO parallel the
high school courses. Continuing, Presi-
dent Burk said:
But in addition to the possession OF teach
ers OF scholarly and professional training. our
elementary schools must have competent pede-
gogic supervision. To maintain good schools.
expert pedagogic judgment in the selection OF
teachers is essential. We need expert direction
and leadership in conducting the work OF the
teachers and above all 10 assign individuals to
duties to which they Will be most pedagogical
~ suitable. In the complete sense OF the term
we rs yet have practically no supervision what
ever of the elementary schools OF California.
We nave many capable city Supertntendents,
but they are not with two or three exceptions.
delegated with sufficient power TO exercise their
true functions. In the rural schools. which
most need supervision there is no supervision
whatever worthy OF the name. The County
Superintendent under the law, is essentially a
clerk He has no legal voice in the selection
OF teachers and the number OF his visits 10
schools is far too few 10 be OF sufficient ser
vice. There are no provisions which require
anything OF the candidate for the office OF
County Superintendent in the way OF evidence
of scholarly fitness. pedagogic training or quail
ihcations as an educational expert. The office
is nlled by popular vote or In other words.
political fitness is the first essential and II Is
only singular and fortuitous accident when the
politically fit is also the professionally At.
''These are remnant rags OF CALIFORNIA; swad
ding clothes and present advanced conditions
Justifying prompt reform. The only Super
visors recognized by our law arc the members
OF the Board OF Education and board OF Trus-
tees. Now, whatever is done in the way OF
change. history in this state we'll as in 9TH
ers. make IL mandatory that nothing shall in
terfere with the business authority OF local
boards
The authority OF local boards has Justly be-
come recognized as the safeguard OF the pub
lie school. But there is place for supervision,
nevertheless. under certain limitations. The
chief weakness OF the local boards can be al
most exclusively traced TO their incompetency
10 handle the professional side OF supervision.
Trustees are business men, but as such they are
manifestly incompetent 10 fuhll duties which
require pedagogic insight into the technical
side OF education and they simply play the
part OF the bull In the China shop in determin-
ing the pedagogic qualifications OF teachers. in
assignment and classification, in the arrange
ment OF courses OF study. In placing the school
upon a professional basis and encouraging the
activity Of teachers. professional ambition, the
authority OF the school trustee has. as a rule.
exerted paralyzing influence for evil, Quench-
ing as IL has the professional zeal OF teachers
and encouraging unprofessional methods OF ad-
vancement. In short, we need a new law
which shall preserve for the local boards every
authority which does not deal with the pro-
fessional and technical side OF education but
distinctly giving these problems TO officer
OF supervision. who. in turn. must present Gre
dentials Of some kind which shall guarantee
a high degree OF competency IN scholarship.
broad pedagogic insight with the educational
problems OF the day and practical methods for
their solution"
President Burk went on to say that the
constitutional convention Of 1879, which
framed the present State constitution
was composed of elements strongly preju-
diced against secondary education, and
as a compromise with these elements
the present constitution gave sanction &c