Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-10
CITY SUPERVISION OF SCHOOLS.
Interesting Address by Prof. i. H.

"Truancy and neglect of school du.
ties can not be cured by compulsory
attendance, but by increasing the at
tractive features of educational work"
said Prof. H. H. Seerley of the State
Normal school in his address at the
conference On Getty Supervision OF
Schools" yesterday afternoon. Prot.
Seerley made the principal address OF
the conference and was followed by q
number of others who discussed the
points which he brought up. The dis
cussion was informal and open to all
those present. Among those who spoke
we're the following: r. B. Crone,
Washington; J. w. ~Cruikshank, Ft.
Madison; o. E. Smith, Indianola; c. E.
Douglas, Montezuma; David Williams,
Keosauqua; H. G. Brown, president Of
the Southern Iowa Normal at Bloom
field, and F. W. Else, Oskaloosa.
Prof. Seerley said in part:
There is less difference Of opinion
than there is difference Of conduct in
school administration. It is one thing
to talk doctrine, it is quite apother
thing to put this doctrine into prac-
tice. Genuine supervision is construc-
tive, rather than critical. It is help
full, rather than dictatorial; 1t Is sug-
gestive rather than active; it is per-
sonal rather than official. Supervision
ought to do things through others, and
should succeed fby giving prominence
and recognition to the work of others.
1t is not a work that stands out by it.
self, or that a show great personal
capability in such a way that it adver-
tises the superintendent.
There are definite qualifications de-
manded by this vocation Of being a SUI
p~erintendent. The standards are none
too high when all that is attainable by
a man, physically, mentally and NOR
ally, is required. There is no such
thing as a minimum standard that
could be satisfactory. Superintend-
ents ought to be better men than other
men that are found in most of the call.
ings of life if they actually reach a
reasonable standard of greatness in
their serviceableness."
In speaking of the appointment OF,
teachers he said:
1.-The work of selecting a corps Of
teachers is one of the greatest i'm
%portance. Acquiring the ability to.
judge correctly the merits of appli-
cants is a profession in itself. The
following things are probably essen
tial: The determining Of the stand
ards of the character, reputation,
training, experience and success that
will be exacted. A full and complete
report on every candidate ought to bel
prepared and all the details determine
ed according to the standards
adopted. The investigation of the ft-G
ness Of the candidate should be thor
oughly accomplished. A personal I'M
terview, where such is possible, is al
safe proposition and Is always desir4
able. There is no more important serf
vice conferred by supervision than the
prevention of the incompetent FROM
receiving employment as teachers. Fl
Another very important point isl
the keeping in the service from year
to year those who are decidedly sucs
cessful.
"Truancy and neglect Of school du.
ties is not to be cured by compulsory
attendance, but by increasing the at
tractive features of educational work.
Educational management demands
recreation as well as strenuous occu-
patton. There is a great lack Of whole
some, happy recreation In every day
school work. There is no need for the
school to be a Jail, or its employments
to be offensive to the feelings. There
is constant need to teach entertaining
,ly, to have illustrations that will help
the memory and hold the imagination,
to develop the work along lines that
will be enjoyable and interesting.
~There must be every reasonable
means used to increase the happiness,
the spirit and the a-ttractiveness Of the:
work. There is something wrong
when the pupil hates the teacher, de-
spises his school tasks and dislikes the
recitations, and that wrong is usually
found in the lack of an entertaining
manner, an interesting form OF proceed
ure, or a happy spirit of admiration for.
the efforts of the pupils.
Good supervision means progress
all the time. There is always progress
when there is a right spirit, when
there is encouragement to do better,
and when what is accomplished is
recognized. There is no effort that is
valueless or that should not be COM
plimented. Improvement in a school
system consists in getting better and,
more satisfactory service out OF the
teachers, ADLER and more notable ap-
plication out Of the pupils, and greater
and broader cooperation from the peo
pie"