The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-07-23


by personal observation Of school activities,
the examination of records and reports, and
by answers to questions asked OF the Board OF
Education, sitting committee OF the whole
of the Supervising Principal and of the var
ious teachers and supervisors Help has also
been obtained from the results OF question
naires submitted to both high and elementary
teachers, and from the standard tests which
were applied in many classes IN certain SUD-
jects of the program Of studies.
The lack of a body of significant school rec
ords of a comparative sort and covering q
period of years, dealing with problems of re
tardation, acceleration and elimination OF pu-
pills. the. distribution of teachers marks, fail
ures among elementary and high school pupils
the composition of various high school classes,
variations in standings between local and out
side pupils in the high school, persistence OF
attendance of local and outside pupils, com
parative costs of the various departments
records of supervisory problems attacked with
at least tentative conclusions reached, and such
other studies as would be asked by Board OF
Education and used by supervising officer IN
a continuous self survey of system of schools
would seem to indicate failure on the part
of school officials to fully appreciate the i'm
portance of such knowledge as an aid 10 In
creased efficiency, and for the information OF
the public.
The results of studies such as suggested
above have nothing in themselves that is dy-
manic, but they serve rather as checks upon
administrative policies, and upon the processes
of training being carried on in the class rooms
They are the material that aids in giving per
istration, and also suggest new problems OF q
very fundamental character. We hasten to
add that all the statistics collected and graphs
constructed can never take the place OF
trained, enthusiastic and devoted teachers
guided and inspired by supervision that is far
seeing, optimistic, skilful and constructive
We heartily commend the industry and dill.
gence of the supervising principal in the mass
of material of various sorts that have been col.
lected in his Office. A considerable portion OF
| it. however, consists of Implications. and there
10 r,nftah hQf fc
suits in supervision. There does not seem te
be keen appreciation of values in the mater
| ial collected, and there appeared to be an in
sufficient supply of comparative studies. The
lack if such data served as a handicap in thai
this report cannot be comprehensive or as
objective and scientific as we would wish. We
should, however, submit some concrete evil
dence collected by members of the survey
staff This material is typical of the kind OF
studies that supervisors are coming to use in
| their work. We have, therefore. in the mair
confined our attention and our recommends
lions to the obvious and general ele-
| ments of progress which bear upon the present
condition and future needs of Mount Holly
In connection with this survey Assistant
Commissioners Scott and Meredith spent 81
! and days. respectively, in personal inspec-
| ton and conference and together we spent al
evening in session with the Board of Educa.
| ton sitting as a Committee of the whole
At this meeting the Supervising Principal was
also present. few days after this confer
ence had another shorter conference with
the Supervising Principal at Trenton for the
purpose of making sure that we had clearly
| in mind his policies and for the purpose OF
giving him an opportunity to supplement tn,
| discussion held at the conference with tbs
Board of Education. Between our first visits
| in February and our last an interval Of
about three months.
We were further assisted in our studies b,
| the Department of Education of the State I'm
/ iversity of New Jersey represented by Prof
| c. E. Elliott and Prof. c. S. Crow. These gen
tlemen applied the standard tests, in various
subjects, collected and tabulated the data, ant
| assisted in their Interpretation. The BoarC
may congratulate itself on having had avail
| able the highly technical and professional skill
| these gentlemen represent.
On own first visit about half of the day
was given to getting the viewpoint of the SUI
pervising principal regarding his problem a.
he conceived it, and to understand his plar
of administering the schools of Mount Holly
On the occasion of the other visits shorter
conferences were had.
The remainder of our time was spent in OBJ
serving class room work. Every class room in
both elementary and high school was visited
/ and in some cases the same teachers were OBJ
| served several times. These visits varied in
length In many instances the entire reel
tation was observed, and in other cases part of
two recitations. In but few cases, only suf-
ficient time was spent to get the general point
of view of the teachers and pupils. and to de-
termine in general the way in which the work
was being conducted. In the high school de-
partment longer period was spent in reci-
tations than in the of many of the ele-
mentary grades since the high school had few
er classes and teachers. Conferences were
held with individual teachers after school and
during vacant periods. and in some cases dur
ing written recitations. These interviews were
to learn of the teachers purpose in the sub
jects taught, their familiarity with available
teaching material and some discussion was had
as to effective methods. frequently sugges-
tons were volunteered as TO how the general
morale and spirit of the school could be up
held and strengthened.
We were impressed with the fact that the
teaching corps consisted in the main of SER
ious minded people. interested in their pupils
and their work. For the most part they were
anxious for positive and constructive guidance
and supervision, and welcomed suggestions
In all cases they were very courteous in illus
trating how their daily programs were ad-
ministered and in explaining frankly and
freely many points which came up concerning
the work they were doing. Such spirit Of
cooperation and desire for the best practices
for teaching their pupils is valuable asset in
any school system.