The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1916-03-18

kind of partisan influence. The
moment any board yields ever so
little to the pressure of any certain
group of people in discrimination
against the rights of the restsbf the
community, that instant is the in
tegrity of the board vitiated.
Only that board can be success
full in this day and generation that
| is surcharged with the liberalizing
spirit of democracy. that knows no
class. creed or color, but seeks to
give even to the lowest, poorest and
meanest child complete and effici-
ent education, which is his right.
''The ideal board will realize that
the administration of the schools is a
matter for experts, and will wisely
confine itself to legislative and gen.
eral supervisory functions. When
board exceeds its proper jurisdiction
and invades the prerogatives of the
superintendent and teachers, it be-
comes disturbing. frequently de-
moralizing factor in the educational
work. There is legitimate field for
! the boards activities, the determin-
ing of policies, the representing of
parents and citizens, the mainten-
ance of general supervision over
school affairs, which is done in our
larger communities, largely by bud
get appropriations and the receiving
of reports from its executive officers;
but when it tries to make up courses
of study, engage, place, and dis
charge teachers and perform other
distinctively administrative acts it
goes beyond its real authority. Of
course, you understand, / am not
discussing this subject from a legal
istic standpoint, but as an educa-
tional proposition. | am dis
cussing an ideal board that desires
to work efficiently and harmoniously
with its teaching staff to promote
the highest educational interest of
the children.
The school system must more and
more approach the organization of
corporation, with the board as the
board of directors. and the superin-
tendent as the general manager. No
board of directors would dream of
continually interfering with over
ruling and humiliating its general
manager, and yet this is what the
average board of education is usually
doing, either consciously or uncon-
sciously. After board of directors
formulates its plans, and outlines in
general way its campaign, which
is done in consultation with the ex-
perts and managers, the carrying
out of its policies is left to its gen.
eral manager. He is not only held
responsible for the success of the en-
terprise. but he is given full author
ity to work out the details and di-
rect his assistants. From time to
time he reports his progress to his
directors. but so long as he is con-
scientiously and successfully con-
Quoting the business of the concern
he is given a free hand and loyal
support.
During recent decades education
has become highly specialized pro-
fession and there have been developed
a large group of men and women
who by academic and practical train
ing, long experience, and proven eff
ficiency rank as peers Of the fore
most in the professions of law. divi-
nifty. craftsmanship. or business
management. The modern school
system is a wondrously complex
thing. and requires expert handling.
Now. no matter how earnest or pub
lie spirited a board may be, and no
matter how successful the individual
members of the board may have been
as lawyers. merchants. or grave dig
gers, it stands to reason they cannot
bring to their work the degree of
expert skill that can be brought by