Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-12-29
THE TEACHERS
INSTITUTE
Some Papers Read Before That
Body, Published in The
Herald by Request.
THE DUTIES OF THE STATE SU.
PERlNTENDENT.

ment OF the race many OF the funC
lions which belonged originally to TIL
head of the house have been mad
over to the church and the state. II
every civilized country, with the pos
sible exception of Iceland (where tn
long winter nights give the father am
pie time to teach his own children)
the state has assumed the task of uni
versal education by establishing
schools for the people and organizing
systems of public instruction.
A system of public instruction can
not be efficient without officers
charged with executive duties.
|, The executive head of school sys-
TENS is known by various names. In
some countries it is the cuItuS-
minister. In some the minister of
education; in the states, generally
known as the state superintendent of
public instruction.
Every public office has its speci-
fed and implied duties.
We shall not be able to discuss all
the duties of the state superintendent
A few typical ones shall claim our
attention or time.
First.-He is to make reports upon
the condition of the school system. In
as much as nelo questions continually
arise and statistics of every kind lose
their interest and value after time,
it seems wise to give the state Super
intendent considerable discretion in
the collection of statistics for his re-
port. The only limitation arises in
the case of the statistical fiend, who
cannot see that the more time and en-.
ergy teachers must waste upon figures
and percentages, the less they will
have for their legitimate work as
guides of the young. The State SUI
perintendent is required to expoundI
the school laws, and to make decis-
ions for the benefit of directors and
others interested in the administration
of the school system
There should be no appeal from his |
decisions. Here ace should haze cen |
fralisdtion of poiuer We should steer |
clear of sentimental democracy in this
instance
Have high educational and moral |
neutrality-suspicious. of merit-then
centralize the power.
The arrangements for the holding
of the county institutes are in the
hands of the State Superintendent
Vhe other agencies for the training
of teachers, such as normal schools.
nOrmals, are left to the State
Superintendent, so far as his other
duties. permit him to oversee their
work and management
In any event. his coming Should bel
Nailed al every Educational gathering I
as was the advent of a new teacher of
Athens (ancient); his platform ut
terances should be replete with words
OF wisdom and encouragement; his
presence should be an inspiration to
all with whom he comes in contact.
and his scholarship and experience
should enable him to guide his grow
ing teachers in their study Of the lat
est Investigations and results in the
department. of pedagogy
In addition to the specified duties.
here are certain implied duties which
,elong to the office by virtue of its
place in the school system. First {
among these implied duties is the OBJ
igation to make himself a represent
tive man. BY taking up into him
elf the very best elements of the ma {
ion. and the age to which he belongs,
lie may fit himself to become an edu-
ational leader. He should be famil- c
ar and in sympathy with every grade |
4 school work, from the kindergar- r
en- to the university.
Then he should inaugurate and car q
y into effect useful reforms. looping u
II what has become dead and useless, r
ut ENGRAVING what is new and full v
I promise. The worlds life is con- h
family advancing; the school should {
eep pace with the progress of the Il
ace. True development implies the Z
reservation of the real essence of 2
ne present age. while its defects are s.
iscarded and our lives elevated and r
nriched. In other words, he should q
e conservative in the true sense OF 4
ne word: conservative Ain the sense a
one who seeks to preserve insti- b
itions from unnecessary and harm 81
II changes. 81
Perhaps the most important of his n
npiied duties is to guard his school Of
ystem from harm. II is here he
ust deal with quasi-reformers, i'll 81
1vised legislators. and agents of ex- n
ensive charts and pretty apparatus N
hese last are vampires sucking the II
cry life-blood. We need an invent IT
e Yankee to concoct a recipe that &C
Ill prove fatal to these vampires. ~
Against ill-advised legislation the hi
ork of the superintendent is similar pl
that of the Egyptian ichneumaD. "a
,ted for its habit of devouring croc. W
lille eggs. which II scratches out of ca
e sand. This animal was held sa. at
ed by the Egyptians, because of his re
ocodile egg-eating proclivities. Many
the bills introduced before our leg. m
latures contain hidden eggs which. o.
Matched, developed into crocodiles. m
tai to the best interests of our vi
hools and children II Is the sa- 70
ed duty of the State Superintendent sil
search out and destroy all eggs OF Of
is kind before they are Matched.
These are few of the duties of the ar
ate Superintendent We now pass hi
a short discussion of the qualiflca- bu
ms of the superintendent. D He III
ust be free from pride and preiu- ne
ce. or all the sentiments 10 which WI
an is heir none are more vicious W,
an pride and prejudice, two seduc- ~
S of individuals, sections and inter mi