The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-12-31


by c. w. Richards, superintendent OF
the city schools OF Ardmore at the
1 State meeting OF the Teachers Asso-
citation in Oklahoma City, December
"SD
In the development OF our educa-
tional system IN America necessity
End economy has brought into the
profession within comparatively re
cent years a new officer known as the
City superintendent. AS our popula-
ton increased and our school systems
grew correspondingly larger there
arose a need for suitable supervision
of these schools. At first this was
done by the clergy, then by a commit
tee of select men. Afterwards this
was done by one select man appointed
kHor that purpose; but as educational
ystems grew larger and larger this
nethod Of supervision became unsat-
Fsfactory and it was necessary for
fthem to have professional expert to
| direct the affairs OF these schools
In 1888 we find that Providence.
II ode Island, first selected such an
o. Ger and called him the superinten-
dent of schools. The importance OF
such an officer soon became recOgnlZ-
ed and in 1913 We find that number
OF towns in Ohio had such an officer
and Boston and New York each Sc
lected such an officer in 1853. The
practice and the need of having a
superintendent of schools have so in
creased that now not only the large
cities but nearly every small town has
such an officer.
There is no other person connected
with the educational system of tins
country today who occupies a more
important and a more responsible pO-
sition than does the city superinten-
dent 1t deyolves upon him not only
to hape educational policies and
courses Of study, but also to become
the leader in the educational progress
of our country.
! have a deep appreciation of the
devotion to duty and the set-sacriiiCe
for others which is characteristic OF
the average city SUI erintendent today.
also recognize the fact that we have
number of superintendents who are
great leaders and who have been lab
oring earnestly and faithfully for
many years for the upift of our cit
izenshjp. and that the great educa-
tional awakening of the last few
years in this country is largely the
fruitage of these labors. But while
these things are true we should be
filled with a spirit of self-satisfaction
and blindly close our eyes to our
own faults and failings. We must
recognize that great progress is being
made in every phase of human en-
deavor today and that We must pro-
gress substantially and continuously
if we are to meet the demands of
our age and civilization.
Sometime ago when We began the
preparation of this raper we prepared
the following QUESTIONABLE and sent it
to a large number of leading super
intendents in order that We mieht
get the ideas of superntendents them
selves upon this subject and have
their idea before us as "A guide to
which majority responded
The questions submitted to them
We're as follows: /, As class, do
superntendents possess sufficient
moral and intellectual stamina? ,.
As a rule do superintendents possess
personality which causes them TO
be pro- erly recognized by the com
munity as a leader? 3 DO our sup
erintendents maintain as lofty profes-
sional ideals with their fellow super
intendents, the teachers and the pub
lie as they should? Are superintend-
ents sufficiently acquainted with the
operation of their courses Of study
and do they know what each subject
taught contributes TO the education
of the child as they should? -. Are
they able to secure teachers properly
trained to enable them to carry ont
their ideals in the work of teaching
childhood? 6. Have they the proper
equipment as a rule for their work
7. Do they need a greater enhgnteh-
ed public sentiment in favor of edu-
cation? 8. To your mind are there
other great needs of our superintend-
ents today?
The answers received to these queS-
tions vary in some respects and are
often colored. by local conditions sur
rounding the one giving the answers
but in the main they are very much
agreed. Therefore We desire to take
up each of these questions separately
and give some of the answers to each
which we regard as typical.
Let us take the first question-As
class do superintendents possess
sufficient moral and intellectual
stamina? To this questuion many
superintendents answered with the
single word No. A few said, Moral
ly, yes; intellectually, no Other
answers were as follows: According
to my ideal the average is too low.
The majority of superintendentS
possess moral and intellectual stamina
sufficient to warrant the best sys-
ten. if they will use it unreservedly
All would say they have-many nave
until community claims present them
selves and they become as the Jelly
fish" "Superintendents do not POSSESS
sufficient moral and intellectual
stamina. In fact, l think they dfe
swayed entirely too much by polucal
parties or church or social influ-
ences." These answers are taken