The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-01-03
From Thursdays Daily:
President Edwards Address

President EdWaros' Address
Following is the address made b
Mr.. L. B. Edwards OF Live Oak, pres.
ident of the association:
am admonished that 1t is danger
Gus TO tread on ground made sacred br
long usage. But 1 am willing to risk
this danger. If l may lead you to con-
slider, seriously, some practical condf-
tions Of vital Importance to our school
system. The duties ard practical
work of our county superintendenu
have been fixed by law and long Gus
tom, and the method of their election
is as old as the constitution. In snrh
case to make changes is difficult and 4
must meet with strong opposition. Tst \
changes must come.
We are living in the midst Of a Won. /
derful revolution of thought, touching
every phase Of life. The spirit Of
constructive democracy is abroad
striving with utmost energy to bring
every man within the reach OF a fuller
reform in child labor conditions. re-
forms In the housing OF the city's poor.
reforms in the methods OF doing busi-
ness by great corporations. various
political reforms. reforms in ednca-
ttonal methods and systems. or other
wise. it is the same spirit drawing al
men into closer ties OF living and
closer bonds OF sympathy. From
whatever angle II touches life It =
bringing rapid changes. Its fnfiuencs
upon our educational ideas Is as yet
scarcely comprehended by any Of us
and the ultimate changes to be wrought
are beyond our imagination.
From the standpoint OF the educator
the rural school is at present the cen
ter of its movement More thought
and effort is being put forth to bring
the rural school into closer relation to
the life OF the masses of the people
than to any other educational problem.
We seek to make the school the center
of community life; we demand changes
in curriculum that will adapt school
work more directly to the environ
ment Of the children. changes by which
boys will be taught not only some
thing Of better methods Of tilling the
soil, but better business methods Of
farming, changes that viii give then
greater respect for the calling Of TIE
farmer and a greater hope for the
future of country life. Indeed. the de-
mand for change in rural school con-
ditions is so great that me may easilf
be driven into fads and fallacies. Tha
very ablest leadership is needed to r
strain the movement from haste Q
revolution and give TO II the commot
sense of reform.
The soul and inspiration OF the rufa
school is the county superintendent
To him we must look for this master
full leadership. II is he that must de-
eide how much OF the old shall be torn
away, and il is he that must mould
and build into practical form the neu
that is to take its place. He should
be an organizing. creative and ex-
ecutive genius. freed from every IN
necessary restraint in shaping the
policy OF his school administration.
Far be 1t from me to criticize adj
versely the work of the county super
intendents OF this state AS a rule
they are men OF high ideals and pur-
poses and are doing a magnificent
work. But in many respects. IL seem1
to me. they are limited in their work
and from these limitations I would see
them free.
Perhaps the greatest need or the
rural school is more efficient super
vision There is no business or en-
terprise that can be successful with
out careful and effective supervision.
In fact, whatever we do, success de-
Ponds upon the supervising manages.
1t Is too often the case that our
superintendent is practically the clerk
or the board. and nothing more. This
should not be true. II would be
economy for every county board %
employ some one to do its clerical
work and leave the superintendent
free to give his time and thought 70
conservative organization and super
vision. Indeed, in most OF the coun-
ties 1t would pay in efficiency II some
OF the funds were spent for the en-
ployment OF force of assistant super
visors. The movement made In this
direction by the present state superin-
tendent is one of the most promising
OF the distinctive policies OF his adj
We should each study
this question. I am sure yon
VIII conclude with me that any changes