Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-28
MISS ELLA ROBB
On School NlsitorS

THE woman school visitor is playing an
l. unobtrusive but none the less important
part In the civic life of the city and in the
constantly bettering conditions of our schools,
according to Miss Ella Robb, general secre-
tary of the Civic Club of Philadelphia.
''The school VISITOR said Miss Robb, 'tis
really the connecting link between the public
and the school. That the work of the women
school visitors is being appreciated is shown
by the fact that we now have hfty-one cam
didates indorSed by our committee and rep
resenting thirty-seven wards. There may
be others. but this number has been deh-
nitcly presented thus far.
Work of the Visitors
There are seven school visitors to each
ward, some of whom are women and the
others men. They hold monthly meetings, at
which their plans of work are dehned ana
the schools which each will visit are as
signed to them. Each director is RESPONSE
BILE for one school and visits it at least once
each month.
Zone of her first duties upon assuming
the Office is to make herself known TO the
principal of the school which she will visit.
and to consult with him as to the time when
It will be most convenient for her to make
the visits This is done entirely at the con-
venience Of the principal, and the principal
is asked how and in what manner he would
like the assistance of the visitor. This as
sistance is usually asked in the way of help
Improvement in the physical conditions of
the school.
The positions are unsalaried. Never
theless, there is never any lack of candidates
for the places and they are usual y sought
for. Occasionally they are used as the
stepping stones to political preferment, but
more often they are sought in an honest
desire to accomplish some good for the
schools.
A Broad Field
"The post of school visitor offers broad
field for observation in the work of our
school system, and, as Nthe district supcrin-
tcndont is an ex officio member of the board
Of his district, ahis observation is not con-
fined to the single school for which the
visitor is responsible.
women are more likely than men to see
the housekeeping arrangements of the school
buildings, whether or not the buildings are
we'll lighted, properly heated, kept clean
and many other details which they are more
apt to observe. However, we do not mean
to intimate that women should hold all the
places as school visitors TO the exclusion of
the men, 1t has been our experience that
the best results are achieved when they
work together.
A Visitors Qualifications
"The first qualification for successful
school visitor is infinite tact, and the second
is an unvarying and cheerful 90 cooperation
with the principal and the teachers not only
in such matters as consulting their convent
encc in the matter of the time of the visits
and the conferences, but also in getting their
point of view of matters which relate to the
| welfare of the schools and the children in
| them.
"I,he school visitors are asked especially
| to note the physical conditions of the school
| buildings and yards and the moral education
| and the training for good citizenship which
Il, Nl,nI DILL al.
schools at the present time there Is a course
| in CiviCs which is certainly second to no
other city in the country. The matter of
| school discipline is also given considerable
attention.
'The teachers also show a great willing
ness to work with the school visitors for the
| best interests Of their charges They CO.
opcRtc heartily with them, and the teachers
| are often glad to have some one who is in
terested with whom to talk over the problems
which constantly confront them.
The Backward Child
Zone of the matters in which the school
| visitor can often give valuable aid is that
of the backward children. sometimes by cor
| rccting matters in the home of the child
| which Is beyond the province of the teacher
| \ little social welfare work often can be of
the greatest assistance to the members of the
| teaching force.
THE trouble with children who are not up
| to the mark in their studies can frequently
| be traced to conditions in the home. which
the teacher has not the time to Investigate
| nor has the power TO correct IT, indeed. such
| an effort would not be resented by the mar
ents. which It seldom Is when done BY the
school visitor. who is generally parent
herself. In one such ease recently it was
found that the child had been coming to
! school without its breakfast, due to illness
| in the home. Not sufficient food and not the
| right kind OF food is a frequent cause for
. Alalanxll nhildsssA A,An& d ~ shssxaxk of cha