Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-11-12

types must be couzaea with at me
polls; the last type h the most desir-
able guide to go by.
The constitution requires that THE
legislature shall provide for the MIN
tenance n support OF a thorough and
efficient system OF free public schools
for the instruction of all the children In
this State between the ages of 5 and Is
years"
This provision of cur fundamental
law is simply an expression of the gen
eral desire of our people. It really is Of
very little service as a guide until II is
interpreted in laws. rules and decisions.
1t is as though the constitution a re-
CURED that the legislature should pro-
vide for a happy and prosperous people.
The opposition to high school inspec-
ton in our State has been due chiefly
to a misunderstanding of it's scope and
purpose. II has been common to hear
1t said hat the smaller country high
school might need supervision and
Standardization, but that the STRONG
city high school did not need it, and
did not need to be interfered with It
should be noted that there has been no
proposition to give to a high school
inspector or supervisor the power 10
dictate conditions of equipment or
courses of study. The only power tha&
has been given or asked was that the
inspector should be authorized to ad-
wise and report. The only force that
would be given to the advice would be
its reasonableness. excepting rhere
the report was likely to be to the effect
hat the school was not complying with
the conditions that would entitie 1t to
an apportionment or to having its GER
tificate indorsed far admission to the
normal school, the colleges or technical
schools. Such being the Office OF tn
spection, could any high school, city
or rural, object to It? On the other
hand, is it not true that the stronger
and more effective the city high school,
the more it invites criticism and m
specti' n
To Widen Local Powers.
! Finally. the object Of supervision is
not 10 decrease. but to increase re-
sponsihility. It is not to invade the,
powers of the locality and usurp them.
but to help develop them and secure
the very ends for which they are striy-
ing. It is not to destroy individuality
and local initiative. but to point the
way for Individuality and local In
~itiative to achieve their purpose. It Is
to make a State system more effective
for those who are the parts OF that
system. It is to aid in the better ac-
complishment OF the purposes for which
the system is established.
High school inspection has had q
partial trial in our State. The Legis-
lature was asked TO pass an act estab-
fishing the Office of high school in
spector. It declined to do this, but
provided for a given amount Of inspec-
ton under present laws by dividins
the sum that had been appropriated
annually for county teachers insti-
tutes. The amount thus provided was
SO small and so tentative that TO In
sure inspection at all competent It was
necessary to find someone who could
devote part time 10 It and not forfeit
his own permanent position.
The service that was rendered under
this arrangement was a valuable one,
ana aid much toward standardizing the
schools and clearing the public mino
concerning them.
II. however. the work IS nnnertNeh
again. il should be done in such a way
that the ONCE may be independent OF
other school connections and may o.
supported in q manner worthy the cix-
onity OF the State.