The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-01-03
FLORIDA STATE TEACHERS AS
ISOLATION
Continued from Page Four.)


be OF vast advantage to scattered
country schools. am likewise sure
that, If rural schools are ever to re-
alize the ideals inspired by the best
educational thought of today, better
methods of supervision are first nee
essity.
The most serious limitation to the
efficiency Of the superintendent is found
in our method of electing him. Under
our present method we make his posi-
ton a political office. In no sense
should politics enter into the selection
of a man for this work. He is chosen,
or should be chosen, because Of his
organizing ability and his special
training for school work. On the other
hand. county offices are filled with
men whose work is mechanical and
clerical Election by popular vote
places on a par with the man who does
such mechanical work as making tax
,racaints the man whose creative
imagination must construct system
for the development of childhood into
manhood and womanhood; it classes
the man who does such clerical work
as copying legal papers with the man
whose purpose is to organize the moral
intellectual and spiritual forces OF
his county into great, efficient work
ing system. A change should be made.
The time has come when this position
should be made professional and not
political It is beneath the dignity OF
his position and belittles his calling
when he is forced to buy space in the
papers as a medium of begging votes
or attacking his opponent. 1t Is dis
grace to his profession when he finds
it necessary, as is sometimes the case,
to employ men in the various precincts
to hang around the polls on election
day, for the purpose of influencing
men with persuasive words and posi-
bly, otherwise to vote for him. 1t is
not my purpose to suggest method,
but I believe the county superintend-
ents themselves should take up the
question and work out some satisfac-
tory plan.
But, if we are to secure the high
type of leadership necessary to crys-
talize into realities the new ideals that
are beginning to shape the policy of
our rural schools, we must be relieved
of another restriction in the election
of county superintendent. Under pres
ent conditions, we are not only confin-
ed to a selection from such talent as
we may chance to find in the county,
but we are still further limited to
such of that talent as we are willing
to make a personal sacrifice of their
professional dignity by undergoing
the hardships of heated political cam
paign. When we fill the principalship
of a county high school, we are at
liberty to search the country for the
man whose qualifications seem best
for the position; yet, when we would
fill the highest position in the county
school system, when we would choose
the man upon whom rests the respon-
sibility for the success or failure of all
the schools, we are limited to the
talent within the county. The limita-
ton Is not only not necessary, but is
unreasonable. Our common sense
should lead us to join in great eff
fort to effect such changes in our law
as will leave US an opportunity to Sc
n cure, wherever he may be found, the
best qualified man for the highest and
most responsible position in the coun-
ty schools.
Let me close by stating, concisely,
my suggestions.
1st Relieve the county superintend-
emit of clerical work. giving all his
time to supervision.
and. In the larger counties give him
one or more assistant supervisors.
3rd. Take the election OF superin-
tendents out of politics. by placing his
appointment in the hands OF a small
board of representative citizens.
4th. Give the board the advantage of
an unlimited territory from which to
select the best possible man for the
position.
81 Wednesday morning at the Temple
theater, from nine to twelve o'clock,
the teachers association assembled
for its second session of the conven-
ton.
President Edwards presided at the
meeting and called the convention to
order promptly Rev. ]. B. Ley made
the impressive invocation.
The first group of the mornings
program was devoted to very able
i discussion of the Community and
the School" Miss Isabel Mays of the
Ocala High School, and Mrs. H. {
Richard of Starke read very excellent
papers on this most important sub
ject. Both these papers were excep-
tionally fine, and We wish that 1t
were possible for us to give them
both to our readers in their entirety.
Mr.. H. H. Richardson of Jackson
Fille, secretary of the board of trade
of that city, and Major Z. T. Izlar of
this city, both were on the program
! Rt this meeting and both responded
with very excellent speeches, which
we're filled with very splendid ideas
pf the school and its relation to the
I community, and their excellent talks
we're both beneficial and interesting.
The main address of the morning
Fas that of Prof. Lotus ID. Coffman of
the University of Illinois, who spoke