The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-12-13
SULLIVAN
MAKES ADDRESS
School Officials of Seven Lower
Jersey Counties Held Meeting
At Atlantic City.

County and City Superintendents,
Supervising principals and helping
teachers of Atlantic, Burlington, Cam
den, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem
and Gloucester Counties held a meet
ing at the Hotel Dennis, in Atlantic
City, on Monday and Tuesday. Super
intendent William G. Sullivan, of this
city, was the first speaker at the Mon
day morning session. His subject was
Improving Instruction Through Tea
ching Teachers"
In part he said: when | was a lad
| was taught to think first and act
afterwards. The tendency today Is to
act first and to think afterwards. Ac-
ton, therefore, is a result of a guess,
but woe betide the child who does not
guess right. He is branded as retard-
ed, a high or a low classed Moron, an
idiot or an imbecile.
"Valueless statistics relative to pu-
pills mentality or advancement. based
upon nothing, have been compiled and
valuable time has been wasted that
might have been devoted to helping
teachers t o present subjects in a way
that would have a tendency to arouse
interest on the part of the pupils.
when | speak of helping teachers,
| presuppose possibilities in teachers
and in the person or persons giving
the help. More than ninety per cent.
can be helped. Let me here first name
what | consider at least five qualifica-
tions of a good teacher. First, educa-
ton, or a knowledge Of the subject to
be taught. Second, proper attitude to-
ward the work; Third, a knowledge of
how the subject should be presented.
Fourth. practice in presentation;
Fifth, favorable mental and physical
conditions.
"The stamp placed upon one said to
be qualified to teach, by higher insti-
tutions or boards of examiners, should
be sufficient, therefore, the first three
qualifications will not be dwell upon.
Suffice 1t to say, all teachers must be
encouraged to study and to come to
the class room full of fresh informa-
ton and the theoretical knowledge of
how someone else has presented the
subject. That the academic training
of teachers in preparation is not what
1t used to be, and even those who had
this training are following after the
will-o'-the-wisp in the way of the So
tdlltu SCichiihC tnNtOtiSdiioh oiid ai0
neglecting 10 keep up with their work.
| would not for n moment place a
discount upon giving assistance to
teachers in planning the work nor in
advising teachers what to do. But, it
is not with theory that | purpose on
dealing, il Is with actual demonstra-
ton of how the work should be done.
my theme is that If the principal
or the superintendent cannot, for any
good reason, demonstrate TO the weak
teacher how the work should be done,
he should arrange for such a demon
stration. But this is not all. He
should see that teachers profit by such
demonstrations. Especial attention
and endeavor can be brought about by
requesting weak teachers to demon
strate to others how subjects might
be taught. The good supervisor will
make notes of worthy endeavors and
accomplishments, and he will be able
to direct teachers in their work. AT
the same time, he should plan to have
these teachers observe someone pre-
SEN the work clearly. In my schools,
| have had the older teachers, teach
ers of experience whom ! consider
good, repeatedly demonstrate to 9TH
ers of even grade, one grade o
and one grade below, how they would
present a subject. Afterward | have
called upon various other teachers to
do likewise and in every instance I
noted Improvement. | believe that
this plan of action pays"