The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-23

IlE IMOhNiNG "
be was a PM Beta Kappa man. and
has taught ten years. During the
sfoates art II this time he has served .
as Grammar school principal IN Hyde .
Park, Cambridge and Brooklme all /
though he has also had brief expert
aAees In high school work and In cub
masters position in grammar work
The board, Of course, understands
that the responsibility Of the appoint
ment to this position VS. upon the SUI
uf schools, This is re-
sponsibIlty which he does not seek but
which Is placed upon him by charter
provisions. Personally, | fully realize
the Importance Of this duty and have
always endeavnred to meet It with the
dignity judgment, honesty and fair
mindednoss due the position | hold
Having made up my mind upon what
seems to me satisfactory evidence, In
case of a vacancy 10 be filled, | should
be false to every dictate Of admnIstra-
tive duty II | allowed 1t to be changed
by the inslstence of any candidates and
his friends. | have always considered
that In such matters the good Of the
schools must ne the first consideration
and that the very best man who can
be obtained for the salary paid should
be appointed, Mistakes Of Judgment
Will naturally occur at times and, II
not too frequent can be overlooked
cannot claim to be fee from such mis-
takes, but false purpose cannot be
excused.
AS not an inappropriate comment
at the present time, | wish 10 quote the
following from my annual report made
to the board last February; However
fair conscientious and philosophical
the superintendent may be in the selec-
ton Of teachers, there is always oppor-
tunity fer criticism of his course. In
fact, the more determined he may be
to serve the best interests of the
schools the greater the probability of
ceneure. Disappointed candidates are
prone to find fault. After all that may
be said as to method Of selection, the
problem Of selecting teachers, princi-
pals and supervisors is much the same
as that which every business man has
TO deal with In securing trusted and ef-
ticicnt employees to manage the varl-
Gus departments Of his business and to
perform its numerous details.
When ! began looking for a super
vising principal for this place, prefer
ring a local man, or a man understand
Ing local conditions, and knowing the
good quality of the schools Of West
Haven | offered the place to Supt F..
G. stiles Yale S6, OF that place, After
considering the matter, however, MIR,
Stiles decided not to make the change.
then, although not making direct
offer of the position, conferred with a
superintendent OF schools IN a neigh
boring town, graduate Of Yale, ask
ing him to consider the place Shortly
after. he was offered a larger salary
elsewhere and considered the matter no
longer. There was one strictly local
candidate for the position. Considering
however, the qualifications which re-
gard necessary for a supervising prin-
cipal. II did not seem to me wise to Sc
lect him for the place. These qualfica-
tions are: Administrative ability. Abil-
ity in supervising school work. Practl-
cal knowledge of elementary school
work from the kindergarten through
Grade VIII Sound and considerate
judgment OF course, assume that 1t
will be readily understood that success
full experience in the same line or in
similar lines of work is the best proof
Of the possession OF these qualifications
and | regard experience OF this sort
hlhgly important in my consideration OF
candidates.
1T is entirely unfair to blame the
schools because they do not train up
supervising principals. Large numbers
Of our girls go to the Normal school,
where they do good work and after
wards become, with few exceptions
successful teachers Very few Of our
boys take up teaching for an occupa-
ton. OF those who go through college
the greater number go into other lines
/ of work. Some take up departmental
work In the high school and in college
1t is rare that one goes into grade
work. AS all our school buildings, ex.
cept those directly in charge of super.
1 vising principals, have women princi-
/ pals-there is no man in line for pro.
motion when vacancy occurs in 9
supervising principalship. If the board
I should wish to do so, it could establish
D a 10 t,,iY fIt ig 4,
/ employing men as building principals
1 1t should be understood that each sup
cruising principal has charge of Q
school district and has under his super
vision from three to six buildings, anc
from twenty-five to sixty teachers.
AS far as local candidates for posi-
lions in our schools are concerned,
Will say that they are fairly treated
and always receive first consideration
/ Not including the teachers in III,
! Dwight distrlct-these being appointed
by the state-nor the sister teachers il
the Hamilton and st. Francis orphan
Asylum schools, there are employed il
the grades of the city schools 404 teach
ers, Of whom 1858 or about 81 IL PEI
cent. are local and 81 or about 70 l.,
per cent are from other places. These
outside teachers are usually secured t,
take vacancies occurring during tn,
school year when candidates are few
If successful they are usually retained
1t is the policy of the committee OF
schools not to secure outside teachers
when competent local candidates ar,
available. The same spirit Is observed
toward candidates for other than grad
positions,
IF. H. BEEDE,,