The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1902-01-24

Educational Department.

column to W. F. King, Hawthorne,
Fla. or NJ. Alta Hancock, Archer, Fla.)
COOPERATION IN SCHOOL MAN
AGEMENT.-Part1 1st.
Cooperation is the watchwGrd of
success with a ball team, boat crew,
q political party, an army. 1t is the
same wherever people have an enter
nrise in common. Most of the things
we undertake in life involve us in
partnership relations. These relations
are not always recognized, but exist
nevertheless. The most enlightened
and freest citizenship with its inValu-
able rights to life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness fully recognized is in
fact a partnership. Patriotism is
merely the full recognition of these
partnership relations and willingness
to do cheerfully and faithfully the du-
ties of partner. The State is the en-
tire company.
Every school is, in fact, whether so
recognized or not, q partnership organ
ization, and its SUCCESS depends upol
the cooperation of its members. The
! smallest rural school with its thirty
nupils and one teacher is by no means
an exception. The teacher, the parents
and the pupils are all partners with diff
ferent duties to perform, but having, O:
at least should haye, common pur
pose Consequently, cooperation In
the school is a vital necessity.
An organization IF any kind accom-
plishes it's work with greatest ease and
most thoroughness only when all wEC
are involved act together harmonious
". Then the whole strength is di-
rected as that Of one man. But when
discOrd appearS-for example, among
the members of ball team, they cease
to make scores. A boat crew slackens
sueed when the oars cease to make
their regular strokes in unison. Apo
litical party. if divided into factions, is
almost sure of defeat. Victory never
nerched on the standard OF an army
whose leaders are concerned greatly
with their jealOusies.
Fortunately people generally admit
tho importance of cooperation. The
dificulty lies in getting them to CO.
oDerate. Let us examine the matter and
see if we can determine principles
which will guide us; in our efforts to
secure cooperation.
Co-operation is baSed on confidence,
confidence in ones own ability, conf
0ence in the associated individuals, and
confidence in the effectiveness OF the
organization as WHIT kle. AS the greater
rOCtC
the leader in any enterprise, so lack
of confidence in him IS more disastrous
than in an individual of lower rank.
In politics particularly men will often
acknowledge that there are unreliable
voters in their party, but when they
become convinced that their leader is
incompetent or untrustwOrthy there re-
suits a slackening of efforts, if not a
disintegration of the whole OrganiZa-
ton An army on the eve of victory
frequently becomes demOralized OF
takes to flight if the commanding Off
Ger is captured or killed.
Competent, courageous and trust
worthy leadership is evidently the most
important factor in SECURING co-opera-
ton
In school the teacher, if there is but
one, and the principal teacher, if there
are several, is the leader. A large
schOol differs from a small one as q
regiment with its colonel commanding
the captains and their companies diff
iers from the isolated company with
only one captain. Every teacher is al
least captain, whether he is alone
with company or absorbed in a regi
ment.
Confidence in the teacher depends, a:
It would in any other person, upon hi:
competency, courage, sincerity, etc. L
would go without saying that larg'
numbers of teachers fail to inspire
confidence because of their literary in
competency; others, because of theil
disciplinary incOmpetency; others, be
cause of their general weakness o
character, and others still, because o
eccentrlcities which distract attention
from their better qualities, and rendel
tnem either obnoxious or ridiculous.
Confidence does not follow as a con
sequence of ones possessing the quail
ueS which inspire it. These qualitiei
must be known. The teacher, there
lore, must become acquainted with tn,
ScnOol officials, the parents and his pu
pB' He can reveal his ability as al
instructor in class room, but ther
are many other qualifications whici
must be revealed in other places. Th
social side of his life manifests itsel
n the society Of the community and il
Ge Informal intercourse with his pu
vuS The religious side becomes know
arough his connection with tn
'lurch, the Sabbath school and othe
alglous organizations, and ais
I[ough his acts towards all wit
'HOm he comes in contact.
C.. L. HAYS.
Nlate Normal School, DeFuniaI
Springs, Fla.