New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1900-02-24
EDUCATIONAL.
THE WORK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

SUCCESSFUL superintendent must ID
perfectly familiar with every detail
of the entire machinery of tn
school system. He must not onl,
know how to teach, but he mus
be able to direct and show other
how to teach. 1t occurs to m
that in no other way can tn
superintendent be so efficient O
display his executive ability to bet
ter advantage than in directing ant
managing an incompetent teacher
or in giving mpanneeded instruc
ton to young teacher who is ab
solutely without experience and who
is desirous of receiving right in
struction. 1t is the duty of tn,
superintendent to uphold and tt
give his moral support to every
teacher under his supervision sc
long as that teacher remains in the
school. Should matters of such 6
nature arise that he cannot longer
give his. support, then let him ask
for his or her removal, but every
teacher has a right to the assist.
ance, support and sympathy of the
superintendent as LONG as she re-
mains in the school.
have previously remarked that
the superintendent should be per
fectly familiar with every detail of
the school and of school work, and
let me add that the superintendent
should be fully competent to take
charge of and teach any grade from
primary to high school, should oc-
casion demand. If he is deficient
in primary methods let him sit at
the feet of his lowest grade teacher,
if she be skillful, and watch her
methods of reaching and develop
ing the mind of the child. Some
Of the most benefial lessons that
have ever learned were from my
lower grade teachers. In my
opinion, the greatest tact, skill and
patience required in teaching are
needed in dealing with little people
so very much depends upon the
right kind of instruction being
given at the beginning. l hope
and trust that the day is not far
distant when the Importance of
having skilled and experienced
teachers in all Of the lower grades,
and paying such teachers just rec
ompense, will be recognized by
school boards everywhere.
Aside from his supervision of the
school and it's workings, I conceive
that, first of all, the superintendent
should be teacher of teachers. In
this way he can accomplish far
pedagogically past redemption,
teachers whom no amount of assist
ance on the part Of the superirtend-
ent can benefit or arouse to better
work, and who block the wheels Of
educational progress.
For the good of the school such
a teacher should be removed as
soon as possible; but if for any
cause whatever, political or other
wise, removal seem inexpedient, or
impracticable, then let the superin-
tendent secure the best work pos
sible under the circumstances, and
avoid, as much as possible, friction
and antagonism. It is mistake
to criticise in public poor teachers,
those who cannot or will not i'm
prove. In case Of their ultimate
dismissal such criticism only tends
to give the appearance of prejudice,
and often gives rise to unfriendly
feelings toward the superintendent.
Perhaps the best way to criticise
poor teachers is to say nothing at
all publicly about them, or their
work, never letting their failure be
discussed except to them and to the
school board.
Not the least of the duties of the
superintendent is his duty to his
school board and his relations to
its members. He should be a man
in whom the board have the utmost
confidence, and for whom they have
profound respect. Only such y man
can WELD the influence that he
ought to exercise with his board.
He should at all times feel free to
offer suggestions, and, when asked,
better and more lasting results
than in any other way. l do not
mean by this that he should instruct
along the lines of textbooks
especially-his greatest work is to
train them to observe children, to
understand and to appreciate them,
and how best to apply psychical
knowledge. ! firmly believe that the
city superintendent has a better
opportunity Of doing satisfactory
pedagogical work along this line
among his teachers than has almost
any other educator.
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No matter what the occasion, the
superintendent should never so far