The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-04

zion, n school assignment should be
brought to him by the teachers, as sal-
so should all communications con-
Icerning school administration or
school complaints by the public. All
such matters should be Immediately
referred to the superintendent for in-
vestigation and settlement. Every
teacher should always fulfill his obli-
cations. to the board and the com
munity and should regard his con-
tract a. a sacred obligation v to
be broken or regarded lightly. If a
desired promotion Is offered during
the contract period, 1t is ethical to
place the matter before the superin-
tendent for his consideration and &C
ton. This action should be regarded
- final.
Tv-Ethical attitude between super
intendent and teachers:
/. Under proper conditions the
superintendent selects and appoints
his teachers and is then held RESPONSE
BILE by his board for the proper per-
Torrance of their duties. His reia-
tons toward his teachers should be
that of a frank, courteous director and
supervisor, and of a personal friend.
There should always be found the
confidence Of complete understanding
and the attitude of c~o-laborers for a
great cause. Each should feel that
his or her success is impossible in the
fullest sense without the correspond
ing success OF the other. ;
2. Out of the duty Of the superin-
tendent to organize and direct the
work of teachers grows the necessity
for criticism. This should be Cd con-
structive and co commendatory as
the occasion demands. 1t should al
ways be entirely without feeling and
absolutely impersOnal. Conferences
for this purpose should always be in
private and held as confidential trusts
by both parties. Such criticism will
endanger no feeling Of fear Or hatred,
but will result in more complete CO.
operation and sympathy. Superintend-
ents should remember ID that COM
mandatory criticism is just as vital
and necessary when possible as con-
structive and (2) that they should be
as amenable to criticism of both kinds
as their principals. supervisors, or
class teachers.
3. Teachers who fail to meet the
needs of the school or of the COM
munity are entitled to a frank state
ment of the cause and should never
be subjected to the humiliation of a
non-election without due warning.
This warning should also come in time
SO that they may seek service else
| where. -
4. The superintendent should seek
the good of his teachers financially
n socially. He should support his
deserving teachers for promotion not
only in his local schools but in aiding
them to secure other positions when
such positions are better than the
local schools a offer.
b. There comes to every superin-
tendent through the intimacy Of pro-
4 fpCS10nQI JN0ln finnG n r7siTTn%4 ya.r
edge Of his teachers-socfaI. moral,
and ~physical-which it. is his duty to
regard as sacredly inViolate, never to
be used except in professional ways.
V-Ethical attitude toward parents
and pupils: ~
1. A spirit of frank, constructive
cooperation in work should pervade
the school. This Is largely depend
ent upo the feeling tone which the
personality of the teacher creates.
z. 1t should be understood that
there is a standing invitation for par
ents to visit the schools. and investi-
gate school conditions and to suggest
ideas Of work or administration that
might be helpful to the schools. Every
possible effort should be made to keep
parents fully informed of the work
and methods of the schools and of the
reasons therefor. 49,.
8. Reports to the parents concern
ing the work and attitude Of the pupils
should always be perfectly frank and
courteous in their, nature. Nothing
should be concealed from the parents,
nothing should be included that is not
vital to the school work.
4. The ~peculiarities of certain par
ents and of pupils in their, school re-
lations should never be made the sub
Ject of conversation with parents not
directly concerned. The professional
knowledge of the superintendent and
teachers should always be regarded as
a sacred trust to be guarded jealousy
from public knowledge.
VI-Ethical attitude toward the
community as citizens:
l. 1t is the duty Of every teacher
man and woman-to be a man among
men and to take his part as a social
factor in the community life and in
t~erests. In serving the public, he still
maintains his right to his own peculiar
social, political and religious beliefs,
and it is his duty to maintain them
in a quiet and dignified manner
2. 1t is every teachers duty as an
important agent in the education of
the young and in the determination of
the moral atmosphere of his commun-
Iity, to live a positive, clean, moral
life; to be known as q factor that must
be counted in it's influence In every
L III S2t ilN v lO &
ment. There should, however, be no
advertising of his ideas, no exploiting
of his positions. His attitude should
always be dignified. his work scholarly,
his actions conservatively progressive.
3. Teachers Of all grades should be
particularly careful in their relations
with each other to give no opportunity
for misconstruction of acts or events
which might lead to i~nsinuations OF
charges of moral turpitude. This is
a social duty which they cove to their
Pupils and the people Of their COM
munity rather than a personal matter
VII-Ethical attitude toward those
interested commercially:
L. The relations Of teachers with
representatives Of book houses, supply
houses, and with others interested ir
the schools from the commercial!
standpoint should be invariably con.
sentative. No promises should be
made to agents, nor should any posi-
tive statements be made as to what
will be done until all interested par
ties have had opportunity duly tc
consider the matter and final actor
has been taken. No commissions OIL
samples should be accepted except
for school use.
2. Teachers should ask for or EN-
courage the sending Of schoolbooks OF
samples only when they seriously
wish to consider adoption. .Suci
books or samples should be regarded
as the property of the school an6
should not be disposed of in any way
until after they have served the pur:
pose for which they were submitted
8. In some rare cases %schoolbool
men or agents become obnoxious BIZ
forcing themselves between the sup.
er~intendent and his board. 1t should
be understood that the professions re.