Evening journal., 1909-02-11
PROFESSIONAL
STUDY CLASS
1.-THE Board of Education
and the Superintendent"
Considered
DIR. GEORGE W. TWITMYER
ADDRESSED TEACHERS

The Professional Study Glass conducted
by Or. Twltmyer for the benefit of the
public school teachers of this city is grow
ing In interest and importance. The study
class organized several years ago by the
superintendent, was begun with seven
members; at the meeting held last night
two hundred and ifty-two teachers were
present.
The object Of these professional studies
is to bring TO the teachers of this city the
best thought on educational theories. poll
cies and practices TO the end that the mis-
takes that have been made elsewhere need
not be repeated here, and that the best
that has been wrought out elsewhere may
be incorporated I'm the work OF our schools.
Last year the course consisted of nine
teen lecture hours devoted to the study OF
the educational systems of Germany,
France and England, and the meaning of
education in a democracy such as the
United States.
This year the subject is THE School
and its Life" in it's broadcast aspect Tn
der this general title viii be studied such
problems as CITY School Systems their
evolution, control and administration"
Board of Education: their duties. powers
and responsibilities :" The Financing Of
Public Education:" 1.-The teaching staff,
that is the superintendent, principals and
teachers their qualifications. functions
and responsibilities" the meaning OF
supervisors" the elementary course of
study" the overwhelming sphere of pub
lie education finding expression in the So
luton of the problems of vacation and
continuation schools vocational schools,
manual and Industrial education. play
ground, physical education. education of
detectives, compulsory education and child
labor legislation,
The study at the High School yesterday
afternoon was given to the Board Of
Education and the Superintendent" in a
! generic sense. Superintendent Twitmyer
discussed only basic principles and only
once or twice made reference to the sub
ject as touching these functionaries in
/ Wilmington.
He said in part: THE administration Of
any school system is purely an economic
/ procedure and is a recognition Of the
/ value and economy of the division Of la
Dor. and requires expert or specialized
knowledge. Not every one can teach the
subjects in our courses Of study; not many
can manage and handle teachers and chill
dren, fewer yet are qualified by nature
and requirement to supervise principals,
teachers and children: there are also few
who are capable Of administering TO the
needs of all these to the highest advan-
I tage of all.
1.-THE school is perhaps the most demo-
cratic institution in our republic it is
managed and controlled by the people
through delegated authority and when
those to whom power and authority are
delegated prove themselves. incompetent.
unworthy or recreant they can easily be
removed and replaced by others.
There are too many people interested in
the schools, there are too many complex
problems and too many details and too
much labor involved in their solution for
the people to manage them directly or at
first hand; this must therefore be done by
indirection and the result Of this indirec-
ton is the Board of Education" and the
peoples purpose is that the school system
in every particular shall be organized and
maintained for the education Of their chill
dren. This is the end and sole purpose OF
the school system: the motive of the PEG.
pie is efficient schools which shall be
equal to the needs Of all and become the
safeguards of citizenship.
Efficient schools can be secured only
by providing suitable buildings and ap-
planes and by keeping them in proper
order, on the one hand. and on the other
by employing, aiding and directing ths
teaching force so that the instruction
shall have life and power to accomplish
the great end for which the schools are
maintained
''The administration Of schools naturally
falls into two coordinate departments
one which manages the business affairs
the other which supervises the instruction
The business affairs of the school system
may be we'll transacted by any citizens OF
, public spirit. common honesty correct
+ purposes and good business experiene,
and sagacity. The instruction will be un
necessarily expensive and ineffective un
/ less put upon a scientific basis and super
vised by competent educational experts.
4 These two departments should b,
I sympathetic. apprcciative at once. o.
\ sound business management and goo,
. teaching. There should be adequate au
thority and quick accountability for boil
departments. to insure ample accommoda
e tions for all Of tho children and goo,
e. teaching at the highest possible point o
y prevent all poor teaching and 10 keep al
teaching at the highest possible point o
S professional spirit and llfc-giving power
G In short al business matters must be pu
into competent business hands and man
: aged upon so ~ business principles: an,
all Of the instruction must be put upol
a professional basis.
The function of the board should h
legislative and administrative on tho busl
ness side OF the school system; that q
the superintendent is professional an
q executive on the professional side Of tn
y system In theory these two phases ar
clearly differentiated; In practice they oi
q ten overlap and become hopelessly con
l. fused.
o The membership Of the board should b
honest. progressive. capable business mer
" and should be chosen on the basis Of ger
t eral intelligence. integrity, public spiri
and fitness 10 render service 10 their fe
low men; questions OF party affliation
social surroundings. religious beliefs an
d business employments should be who'll
- eliminated
THE Board should he invested with IN
> power TO select and elect the superinter
( dent of schools. because Il should kno
the needs Of the community best. II
should be a man possessing the larges
y possible combination OF essentials
n equipment, physical, moral. scholastic ar
4 professional. and when once entruste
with the direction or management OF Il
y schools he should be given the large
d f.-fI1