Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-28

StTlCtlOHS anu prescriptions, ana (Z)
by secretion rather than as the re-
suit of constant readjustment of the
old organization or a realignment of
functions in order to accommodate
the several new and increasing ac-
tivities.
THAT the responsibility for the
conduct of the school system is at
the present time widely diffused
among the board. committees, mem
bers of the board, secretary, super
intendent, ETC., is largely ascribable
to the present state law which does
not expressly permit the superin-
tendent of schools to be the real re-
sponsible leader of the school sys-
| tenn.
I'm spite of the fact that during
the last ten years the expenditures
of the system have grown 100 per
cent, the school population nearly
rs per cent. and many new activi-
ties have been added there has
been no appreciable corresponding
change either in the number of per-
sonnel of. or in the practice followed
| by the central office staff. The ef-
feet of this has been that Cd re-
sponsibility has been diffused among
the several executives and board
officials. (2) the central office staff
has been greatly overworked, (3) it
/ has not been possible to secure
proper information upon which to
base administrative policies.
THE board, its committees or the
individual members as we'll as the
executive staff are most conscen-
tious and Jealous with respect to
their work, in fact the Willingness
: of each official to take a practical
! part in the administration of the
schools is indeed extraordinary.
/ There is a tendency on the part of
all to volunteer" their services and
to perform functions for which the
others should be held wholly respon-
sible. Thus we find that the board
or its committees, or its principals,
have assumed functions which should
be performed by their executives.
Secretaries keep records and render
statements which should be the duty
of the treasurer or the superintend-
ent. The direct result of this has
been that (D prompt, definite and
responsible action has been lacking,
| CD. the paid experts have been ig-
nored in the initiation of plans and
| the execution thereof.
I'm criticising the general organ
ization and procedure of the board
it's committees and executives, GER
tain principles or standards for the
organization of their work are laid
down in this report. Briefly, these
principles, which it is believed will
make for efficient and responsible
administration, are as follows:
| 1.-THE executive (preferably one
executive) should be responsible for
the initiation and the execution OF
plans.
"2-The board should be respon-
sible for the critical review and ap-
praisal of the plans and work of the
executives.
"3-The board is accountable al
all times to the electorate and there
fore should keep it constantly in
formed.
Wherever the findings of the
survey indicated that the present
general organization deviated from
the above principles, such conditions
are pointed out and the necessary
remedial measures are indicated.
''In brief the major recommenda-
tions with reference to the general
administration are.
"1-That the committees of the
board be abolished.
"2-That a dual executive system
be established (until proper legis-
lation can be secured by virtue OF
which the superintendent of schools
will become the chief executive).
"3-That the board modify its pro-
cedure so as to be able to consider
only the essentials of the school ad.
ministration, and that it give more
attention to the report of it's CHIEF
executives.
"4-That the board adopt a more
with regard to the making of its
budget.
i "5-That the administrative year
be made coterminus with the fisca
year in order for the people of the
school district to be able to plac,
responsibility for failures or successes
of any one school administration.
Construction, Maintenance and
Operation of Buildings
"The survey discovered that tn,
building problem of the board ha!
not been handled on the broad lines
warranted by the magnitude anC
Importance of this subject:
Too many small cheap build
ings have been built. In some part
of the city these are located in ciost
proximity to one another.
"2-Standards of construction hav,
been years behind the times.
"3-The financial program of The
board with reference to new con
struction does not seem to have beer
we'll proportioned to the resources o.
the city.
"4-The board has taken upon it.
self responsibility for certain tech.
nical phases of construction instead ot
delegating such matters so techni
cally trained men and holding then
responsible.
! Better supervision over the re.