Division superintendent and the normal Institute

Title

Language

English

Source

The Philippine Craftsman Volume V (Issue No. 7) January 1917

Year

1917

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

EDITORIAL. DEVELOPING PRIDE IN AND LOYALTY TO ONE’S PROFESSION. In the teachers’ institutes and assemblies, both in Manila and the provinces, improvement in professional ability of the teach ing force has been the main object sought. The present effi ciency of the Philippine public school system, indicates the extent of the results obtained. Another point which is different from, yet associated with this dominant idea of practical achieve ment, and which stands out prominently in connection with the work of the teachers’ assemblies, is the endeavor to develop a feeling of pride in and loyalty to the best standards of the teach ing profession. At these assemblies, and at the interprovincial athletic meets, representatives from a wide geographical area are present. Such gatherings are based on a sound principle: People who pursue the same calling need to get together occasionally to dis cuss and seek to solve different problems which arise in the course of their work. A more intelligent conception of duties comes to those persons who attend assemblies at which the dif ferent phases of their own work are considered. Also, the various meetings of teachers have done much to break down sectional barriers, and to remove misunderstandings due to dif ferences in language and local customs. Fortunately, through the influence of the various meetings of teachers, through an improvement in their educational status and a widening of their general outlook, the time is probably near when membership in the teaching profession will be a source of just pride to every teacher in the service of the Bureau of Education. DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT AND THE NORMAL INSTITUTE. The explanation of courses, the making of plans, and'the demonstration of methods in the division normal institute, will largely determine the effectiveness of the entire year’s work in the primary schools. Necessarily, the proper organization and conduct of the division normal institute are matters of vital importance, and the division superintendent should assume gen529 530 THE PHILIPPINE CRAFTSMAN eral charge of its activities. He should not delegate responsi bility for that work to any subordinate however capable. One purpose in this exercise of direct control by the division super intendent is the making sure that each phase of the work receives its proper attention. It is also highly desirable that he take personal charge of a special course for supervising teachers and principals. The aim of the work offered in institutes is to increase the effectiveness of teaching and supervising. The work in methods is, therefore, preeminent. Methods are best learned by observa tion and by actual practice. The effective organization of model classes of reasonable size, and their conduct by the best teachers in the division, deserves the most careful attention of the divi sion superintendent. He should see to it that the one-teachertwo-division program is followed, and that the course of study is adhered to. All of this will require much of the division superintendent’s attention; but while the institute is in session, the importance of the work would warrant him in giving at least one half of his time to it. EDUCATION 1’011 EFFICIENCY. There are various factors which militate against efficiency in school work. Lack of discipline is among the first. If children are not taught to sit correctly, to rise properly and punctually when called upon, and to open or close their books when directed, they miss something of that disciplinary training which is funda mental to good instruction. Then there is lack of interest which makes discipline so much more difficult; and a lack of resource on the part of the teacher soon dissipates interest. A teacher must continually have fresh ideas with which he can assist pupils in their daily tasks. As a rule, the absence of those charac teristics essential to efficient instruction, is due to a lack of understanding rather than to the probability that the teacher has not a pedagogical bent. An increase in the present attain ments of teachers would do more than any other one thing to ward improving school standards. RELIABILITY. The quality that an employer insists on most in his employees, is reliability. If he gives an order he expects it to be obeyed. It is said that Napoleon, when conversing with a man of remark

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