Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1923-11-30

EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO, in three eastern cities, was
started simultaneously but independently a movement
which now extended many parts of the country with
highly satisfactory results wherever tredthe visiting
teacher" movement.
1t seems curious that New York, Boston and Hart
ford should hit upon this scheme for helping GER
tain type child during the school year. but such
lis the case The explanation for such coincidence is
that tho neeT and the remedy restrict
ed to certain type In any event. thoughtful educators
had for long time realized that with the extension
the of attendance officers school nurses and spe-
ca classes there still remained children-neither truants
nor deinquents nor physically handicapped-for
whom the schools not doing what seemed to be need
ed.
These were the children because they failed for
no obvious reason to make the prescribed progress were
known as problem" difficult" and to find the
cause for such condition the for which the
visiting teacher was added to the It evil
dent some representing the school needed to get
acquainted with the individual child in order that closer
cooperation between the school and the home might be
brought about.
To make the most out of the five school hours, the
teacher understand something of the chds life dur
ing remaining nineteen hours of the day. and in order
these five hours may not be undone by the
larger portion at the chds disposal the home must be in
close touch with school, and must understand its aims
and demands.
In New York the work originated in two settlements
where chdworers felt they needed to get closer touch
settlement teachers They found that besides
curing help the schools they could assist the teach
ers obtaining better cooperation the part OF
parents and in better understanding certain children
So successful this experiment that committee to
develop this work shortly afterward formed by the
Public Education Association which maintained the work
until the board of education convinced of its value and
established it part of the school system.
Boston the work started by a group of public
spirited citizens whose example followed by womens
clubs and settlements In Hartford the third pioneer the
work undertaken upon the suggestion of the director
the psychological laboratory realized
it in connection with his work with probematic school
children.
The movement has grown gradually and steadily, until
at present there visiting teachers in at least twenty
eight cities in fifteen states in all parts of the country The
work has passed the experimental stage and is
ing into general recognition of the constructive
factors of the school system in achieving the ideal
ing each child straight and fulfilling its obligation to the
democracy of tomorrow.
The latest report of the National Association of Wis
ng Teachers shows that majority of cities which
have adopted this plan the visiting teachers are
by the superintendent of schools his associates This
the case in New York, Utica, Mount Vernon, Montcair
Hartford Columbus, Cleveland Kansas City elsewhere
Fargo, N. d. has home and visiting departments
In Minneapolis, however, which has fourteen visiting tea
chers the visiting teachers part of the department
of attendance and guidance Chicago the work is part
OF the department of vocational guidance and employment
certificates In Des Mones the work visiting teach
er is part of the attendance department
Although there are many causes for the conditions
which ground the need for visiting teachers has been
found that the chief ones be put under four
Observation-Disclosures in scholarship home con-
dtiOns, misconduct and irregular attendance
In New York city, Boston, Springfield, Louisville and
few other places for example, Embellishments in scho-
arshp holds first place among reasons given for re-
ferring In Hartford the hand where re-
tarded pupils receiving special attention to their phys-
cal condition. the three visiting teachers gave physical
condition" the most frequent Minneapolis
likewise where visiting teacher work intimately
which make little provision for following up attendance
irregular attendance given as the foremost
cause for referring cases.
majority of these visiting teachers work among av-
children, but in cities need has been felt for
specialization Cleveland for instance has several DO
ing effective work classes the blind and for
conservation of sight and part the New York force
spend their entire time in working with subnormal chill
dren In several smaller communities been in
tated along the line of community improvement and these
efforts have proved quit successful.
The visiting teachers place in the school system is
still comparatively underlined Up to the present she has
been pioneer finding her way a new field The visit
ing teacher is coming to be recognized more and more as
established factor of the school sysytem this con-
necon is interesting to note that educators are
saying she should be teacher large with special equip
ment and Others going further that her close
W connected with the administrative staff her position
should develop into that Of administrative assistant in
the school in charge of investigation adjustment of in
divdual problems In any event. she has to stay
Philadelphia North American.