The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1901-08-24
Supervision AND
LAEA MTZE PARISH.

SCHOOL SUPERY VISION AND
LAEA KETZE PARISH.
The action of the School Board
in engaging the services of a
trained superintendent for La
fayette parish IS the subject of an
interesting article published in a
recent issue of the Louisiana School
Review. The Gazette has always
advocated professional supervision
of schools, being satisfied that no
really efficient system could exist
without a competent superintendent.
The management of schools should
he divorced as much as possible
from political influences and from
what is perhaps worse, a baneful
nepotism. Between the two, it is
dlfhcult to say which has caused
more injury to the educational in
terests of this State.
The first step in the organization
of school system for parish
should be the selection of trained,
energetic superintendent, and in
looking for the right man a board
should not be hampered by paro-
chial lines. That narrow provin-
cialism which would shut out talent
and worth from another parish or
State should find no place in an
American community. So foolish
a policy will enlist the support only
of those who are naturally partial to
Chinese methods.
The Gazette publishes with pleas
ure the editorial of the Louisiana
School Review. 1t will show that
the enlightened course pursued by
the local board Is supported by the
best educational thought in the
State. The Review says:
The 9Th of July, 1901, marks an i'm
Portant event in the school history of Lafa-
yette parish. The school board elected
Prof L. J. Alleman superintendent of the
parish. Thus professional school super
vision is introduced into one parish, only to
be followed by the more progressive parishes
Of Our state. Every friend of progressive
school economics will take new courage,
and with renewed zeal continue to labor for
the introduction of this modern and essential
the parishes of Louisiana 1t is evident that
the days of the 'spolitical superintendent
are numbered, and the people are ready and
professional school super |
vision.' The people are beginning to see
hat
hing for the city schools, it must be good
hing for the schools OF the parish They
Ire beginning to realize that a superin- |
endent has work among the people and |
n the schools that one save professional
eacher can do. They see that it IS not
political pull and influence that a superin-
endent needs. The School Board can
urnish full supply of that. But the
needs, above all, a knowledge
# the details of schools and school econo-
MICS from a professional viewpoint. The
'eoPle need a man to talk school to them
rom the viewpoint of an educator and
eacher, and not to talk politics of edu-
ational theories concerning which the un-
Professional superintendent has no practical
The teacher needs advice and
ERECTION from one who knows from theory
nd practice. IF the unprofessonal super
ltendent knew how ridiculous he is when
living advice to teachers, he would resign
once and look for reward for his sspolitical
ull'' in other and more suitable fields A
wyer. doctor or business man giving di-
:ctions in the art and practice of teaching
Id school management! The greatest of
achers feel unworthy, and yet see with
hat persistence the Office of superintendent
sought for by the ssgood fellows'' in the
olitical crew.
Lafayette's action sounds the death knell
the 'tpolitical superintendent and pro-
aims the Inauguration of new era, in
nlch special fitness and professional quail
cation shall be the guide in the selection
a parish school superintendent. We con-
atulate the school board of Lafayette, the
ople, the teachers, and particularly the r
hool children. We bespeak for Superin-
ndent Alleman full measure of success
this important work for which he is by
ucation and training particularly and
ecially fitted.
Pointed Paragraphs.
icago News. !