The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-04-07
(By S. X.

try school teacher whose lot IL may
be to satisfy the whims and dictates
Of an overwhelming county superin-
tendent of schools will find comfort
ing words in an article lately written
by Prof. L. A. Williams, Of the de-
partment of education Of the State
University. The KIND Of a Superin-
tendent the Teacher Would Have" is
the title of the leading article appear
ing in the March number of The
American School Board Journal, a
national publication, printed in Mil
yankee, Wis, in which the North
Carolina University professor takes
the county superintendent to task.
What the Superintendent Expects.
Admitting the wisdom and pro-
priety of the county superintendent
who demands a high standard Of
character, knowledge and training OF
his corps of teachers, the author OF
the article proceeds to questions con-
cerning the virtues that the superln-
tendent possess. us it not about
time the teachers were heard from
as to the sort Of a superintendent
they would have2" The superintend-
ent expects the teacher ito handle
all the problems, wise, neat, pleas
ant, amenable to his orders, trained
in method and technique, possessing
all the great moral virtues, in fact
conforming to the standard of the
- hhC IL ohJ
of work"
What the Teachers Desire.
Then, Professor Williams enumer
ates some of the things told him by
the eacherS in the ranks concerning
the things they desire to find in the
ideal superintendent. Foremost, the
teacher would have a superintendent
who is an expert in educational mat
ters; preferably one who comes from
the ranks, and who by his experience
is acquainted with all forms of work
in which he is supposed to be the
leader. The writer considers that the
teacher is firmly opposed to q poll
tician superintendent as a guide in
education. Again, the teachers are
ayerse to the superintendent with
other fish to fry" A lawyer, who
through lack of clients serves as
superintendent, Is considered an un-
desirable guide in county educational
affairs.
Should Be Honest.
Chief among the recommendation
that the teacher would ask that tht
superintendent possess are moral an(
virtuous qualities. The man wht
cheats cannot we'll instruct children
to travel the road of honesty, O.
whose life is unclean and hidden can
not set forth "a proper moral code TO
children. Particular reference i
made by Professor Williams to tn
superintendent who is properly classi
fed as a critic; the man who cal
never be suited. This type Of su
perintendent, says the writer, irri
tates, disheartens, exaSperates tn
conscientious teacher and helps tn
weak, inefficient eacher not at al
Then. too, the picayune, who magni
ties the foibles of the school room
is a decided Objectionable class O
superintendentS.
Concerning the Visitation.
Under the sub-head, "Schoolroor
visitation the author presents
graphic picture Of a scene illustra
dve of a type Of superintendent foun
often. To quote somewhat at length
Teachers wish to be visited impair
TALLY and not to have their super
intendent stay in one room half
session because he has become IL
terested through particularly good
atrociously bad work, and then visit
h~alf-dozen rooms in the other ha
of the session. They want an eve
distribution Of visitation and the
are willing it should be long enous
that when 1t is over they can feel
really knows about what they al
doing. Rapid-fire, hit-or-Iniss visit:
ton destroys the confidence Of I'll
teachers in their superintendent.
Should Be Cheerful.
Teachers like a cheerful superb
endent. He may be severe, he may
a driver. he may be exacting, but
he IS cheerful when he comes into Il
school much is forgiven. Nor mu
that cheerfulness descend to ma,
kishnes like that of the would
facetiOus superintendent, who car
into a teachers room one day unb
known to her, Inc easily approach.
from behind, suddenly put his ia
close to her ear and shouted, Boo
1t was an attempt to be bright a.
cheerful. no doubt, but it was a m
cradle failure.
DOn't Air Domestic Troubles.
Moreover, teachers do wish tt
married superintendent would Ike
their domestic troubles to Intensely
and that superintendent in 10,
would be silent over lovers Quarre
Many a teacher has had to sit a
listen for hours to the droning re
tation Of unfortunate marital or o
nuptial affairs. However INTEREST,"
il may have been (they all admit