New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-18

superintendent OF SNhVOio. - 49,
come almost convulsed on The matter
of the selection of an examiner, IN the
place instead of one whose term has
expired. The Board Of Superintendent
Is composed Of eight members with the
City Superintendent as chairman, eN
oficio. making nine in all. The Board
of Examiners has a membership Of
four. with the City Superintendent as
chairman, ex oficio, making five in all.
The public is not generally aware OF
the exact duties performed by the
Board Of superintendent as board or
by the members as individuals. This
absence Of knowledge on the part OF
the people is shared in largely by the
teachers themselves in this respect;
because the members of the Board OF
superintendents are seldom found
among the schools. However, they are
great thinkers.
The Board Of Superintendents ana
its operations were subjected recently
10 a sort Of acid test by tIe New YORK
school inquiry committee. and the yer
dict. speaking generally, was that the
duties were neither onerous nor eX-
baustine. Some one with a spice OF
bumor once quoted in their connection
The celebrated verse Of Praed regard
ing the period of government in Eng
land known as the Ministry of LORD
Melbourne:
ITO promise. pause prepare, postpone
And end by letting things alone
In short. 20 earn the peoples pay
p,- Sofrr nothing every QQV.
This allusion is undoubtedly an ex-
sggeration. because, unless the Board
81 Superintendents met occasionally
md nominated teachers from the ehgi-
ble lists prepared as the result of the
efforts Of the Board Of Examiners, and
transferred teachers from one school
10 another, the public school system
would be paralyzed and the children
education would suffer
The Board OF superintendent there
fore exists as a board of strategy, be
cause education, politics and other IN
fuences require to be assimllated, CO.
ord:uated. and the various forces, both
visible and invisible, turned TO their
proper account. This process is known
in the psrlance Of the day as "co-opera-
ton" and at present 1t IS working
overtime.
The Board Of Examiners OF the pun
lie school system is a much abused
body. There is diversity of opinion
A. TO whether this abuse is merlted or
not. No unsuccessful candidate IN an
examination for teachers license ever
sneaks well of the Board Of Examiners.
The politicians and those in control OF
affairs Of state have been known to re.
fer 10 the members of the Board OF
Examiners rs storage bottles ana
there is no denying the fact that
they do store away much educational
lore In their mOnaStlc sccluslOn, torlh-
coming when required for the utter be-
wilderment Of the unwary and UMPIRE
pared candidate for educational prefer
ment.
no one knows what will be the prod
net OF the Board Of Examiners. Its
eligible lists are disconcerting at times,
so the members Of the Board of Educa-
tion seem to think. Recently an exam
ination for positions for school princi-
palships was held. The Board of tx
aminers refused TO give any guarantee
as 10 the outcome. How could 1t, IN
view Of the fact that education and all
attendant processes arc not an exact
science? One disappointed individual
who expected to have friends on the
GllENOle llNfs WHO Ntlt Abtl t'IN AApNo ~
bv their absence, described the princi-
pals list as looking like "long Rhine
wine list" with Il few ejaculatory let
ters and apostrophes al tho end. Such
condition is susceptible Of change,
aud the practical way to accomplish
the required reform is 10 install IN the
vacant position an educator Of the right
kind.
The public is watching the situation
with interest, and the outcome with
some degree Of doubt.
All great organizations require lead
ors. All movements, whether educa-
tional, social. moral or political, re-
Guire leadership. Every school, wheth-
er public or private, requires leader
70 carry the standard. Still more &C
centuated is the necessity for leader
ship in great school systems.
Every official placed in position. OF
high trust should be a leader and
specialist. The day is slowly passing
when those responsible for the veal
and welfare of the community, can &C
auire easy honors. The public de-
mands efficiency, knowledge and the
reaching upward for high ideals. The
tvros will be swept from their high
pinnacles, submerged in the wave OF
popular opinion impelled by public de-
mand.
Educational leadership represents
the most delicate and difficult function
20 which an individual can aspire
whether in the field Of public or prl-
vate education.
The private schools and colleges and
institutions Of higher education have
furnished, so far, the greatest evi-
dences of leadership. The technical
schools Of the country are private IN
gtitutions. Their success is due to the
quality Of leadership displayed at the
head. and the faculty possessed by
such leadership in surrounding the IN
gtitution with specialized talent, each
represcntative indicating some SUB
icct or branch of knowledge in which
he cxcels.
In choosing from the varied field OF
education an institution TO which 10
intrust the future welfare OF the
voungcr members Of the family. 1t IS
well for parents to have due regard for
the reputation Of the institution Tor
it's leadership. A leader is the per
sonifcgtion of inspiration, and he who
can inspire for good and better things
must himself be a success.
The New York Tribune Education
Bureau has made a close study OF the
nersonuel Of those in charge OF the
hest schools and educational institu-
lions throughout the country, having