The Forrest City times., 1909-05-14
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

That the public schools of Arkansas
are mismanaged is too patent 10 ad-
NIT Of contrayention. That the ob-
ject for which they were established
is rarely reached is also fact which
cannot be successfully challenged.
Every school district in the state has
from ) 10 ) directors, and it too fire.
quently happens strong effort is made
70 conduct school in as many diff
ferent ways. Often the teacher is
made the buffer between the board
and the patrons and is the victim of
conditions entirely outside his own
making or control. We have known
directors 10 choose an unit man or
woman who knew practically nothing
OF the duties and cared less for the re-
sponsibilities of teacher simply be-
cause of pigheaded determination
TO defeat the choice Of some particular
member of the board who had given
grounds for an imaginary grievance,
or for real one, as 10 that. Public
duty was forgotten by these resentful
members, the well-being Of the pupils,
the prosperity Of the school al were
overlooked in the eagerness TO defeat
this unpopular memb Der Of the board.
and 10 secure school at al some
totally unqualified person was en-
ployed.
VI n Il
teachers are employed they are chosen
by the board. The principal is select
ed and his assistants are named for
him. He has no voice whatever in
the matter, although he is held re-
sponsible for the good conduct of the
school. II teacher fails Of his duty
the only remedy is an appeal TO the
school board, and it isn't much
trouble for winsome woman or a
smooth-tongaed man TO convince the
average board that the principal
bringing charges of ineficiency or in
difference or incidence is tyYant Of
the most cruel type. In nine cases
out OF ten the teacher is sustained
and the principal is turned down"
So frequently is this the result that
principals OF schools suffer almost in
conceivable indignities from their
subordinates. who, secure Of their
pull with the powers that be, snap
their fingers in the face Of the prin :
cipal and deride him in every possible
way. This is not a picture Of the
imagination-w have seen Just such
cases more than once What can YOU
expect Of school conducted in such a
way: IL is tie sheerest folly 10 ex-
! pect success under these conditions.
There should be one official head-not
three or fye-0f each school and from
Is dictum there should be no appeal.
His power 70 employ and discharge
/ should be absolute. The board of di-
rectors should select some good level
headed competent man as principal
and permit him 10 choose his own as
sistants and fire" them if they are
recreant to their duty. Hold tie
principal strictly accountable for the
manner in which the school is con-
Quoted, and dismiss him If he falls
short Of the requirements Of the case:
but don't hamper him az the begin
ming with corps of teachers who
may not work in harmony with him,
leaving no remedy in his hands to
alter these untoward conditions.
No other business under the sun is
conducted in such a slip-shod way.
Tie directors Of a railroad, fer in
stance elect their president. but they
do noI elect lis subordinateS: tile
president selects them. II his general
or division aperintendents dc not
produce results they are Ousted and
better men placed in their stead. The
uperintendents are not hampered in
the selection Of their conductors,
brakemen or other employees, or in
their dismissal Of them from the com
pany's service They know that IN
less they obey To the letter the orders
Of their superintendent they will be
Immediately discharged, and in very
rare instances do the powers higher
up take cognizance Of the matter, but
hold the superintendent accountable,
and not the individual employe
The education ofchildren, the most
important business in the world.
should be placed upon as sane basis.
Give the principals q chance.