The copper era. (Clifton, Graham County, Ariz.) 1899-1911, 1908-03-26
A School Talk


Since the school election is so near
at hand it might be well to state the
qualifications and duties of a school
board.
According to the laws of Arizona
the board of education should employ
teachers and see to it that school is
maintained for at least eight or nine
months; that school house is we'll
supplied with good substantial and
comfortable furniture and other nee
essary equipment; that the school
ground is ample and in such a condi-
ton that it can be used for play
ground. Most trustees think their
duties are done when the school
ma am is employed and her vouchers
signed. Many have a notion that
anything and anybody is good enough
for the school. This is Certainly an
erroneous idea. School rooms should
be made comfortable and attractive,
so the pupils should feel proud of it
and by it be stimulated toward higher
ideals, for the immediate environ
ment forms the children's hahII for
good or for evil. The very best is
never too good; especially Is this true
in regard to schools.
Members of a school board ought
to be careful in the selection of
teachers and not employ men and
women simply for political reasons.
Teachers ought to be broad gaug, Il
men and women with sympathy for
and knowledge of children; in other
words they should have made study
of the physical makeup of child life.
They ought to be familiar with the
vicissitudes of life, and read human
nature somewhat readily. After
teacher has been employed he should
be left alone to carry out the educa-
tional side of the program. If prin-
cipal is employed let him be the head
of the school and not a mere figure
head to carry out the notions of each (
member of the board. The board and
teachers however ought to cooperate
for the welfare and best interests of
the school.
Regarding the qualifications of
board members it might be we'll to
quote DIR. Chancellor, superintendent
of the schools of the District of Co
lumbia:
l. sage from thirty to sixty-fve
years.
?. Education at least to the ex-
tent of high school graduation.
3. SEX perience in the affairs of
property, of profession or of bust
ness.
4. "The confidence in himself and
the reputation for good Judgment that
come with success in ones personal
affairs.
"When majority of the members
meet these standards or most of them
a community may congratulate itself
upon having very good board"
They should be of good business
ability, wide experience, broadminded
and strong characters. 1t is of i'm
portance that they be men of estab-
lished reputation, that the people
may trust them and receive their de-
cisions with confidence. DIR. Chancel-
Tor says further:
Through the board of education
the people rule the school. A board
member is neither an educator nor a ;
governor. AS a board member he is
individually nothing but a citizen. {
There is no board of education except ;
in a meeting duly called and convened |
and then only after roll call and be- I
fore adjournment. The control of
the school is in the vote. The reso- {
lutions that are regularly adopted
govern the schools"
The board of education ought to be
careful to have all their doings done {
legally and in a business-like way, 4
otherwise their transactions may be I
criticized. Their first, best and last |
thought ought to be the welfare of |
all the children, for the pupils trained I
in the schools of today will be the I
rulers of tomorrow. I
Election of school trustees will be '
held in Clifton next Saturday, and c
let us then elect the best trustees L
possible. Hitherto little interest has I
been taken in school elections. Let '
us wake up and keep in line with L
other towns in the territory. We L
have marked time long enough. z
Every citizen having children of T
school age, who has been a resident d
of the district thirty days previous L
to the election, or who is a taxpayer S
in this district, is qualified voter.
CONTRIBUTED. z