46 



from very nearness overlooked. The system would tend to make each 

 man analyze his own work. 



The presence of the defects observed in classroom work indicates 

 one or more of four things in regard to the supervision of the superin- 

 tendent 



1. He visits for the purpose of seeing only and not for the purpose 



of helping the instructor. 



2. He does not follow up his visits with conferences or suggestions. 



3. Pupils, all of whom know the superintendent, make especial ef- 



forts at the time of his visits. 



4. The instructor is especially careful at the time of the visits. 



It is undoubtedly true that the instructors and pupils try to be at 

 their best on the occasion of the visits of the superintendent. It is also 

 true that the defects are not all of the kind that can be put on and off 

 at will. Some of them will occur no matter who is present. Those 

 that can be eliminated when the superintendent is present should be 

 eliminated by the instructor at all times. Those that can not be so done 

 away with should be noticed by the superintendent and he should assist 

 in remedying them. Present supervision does not seem to be effective. 

 No doubt the superintendent knows in general who are the best and 

 who are the poorest teachers. Does he know specific defects and do^s 

 he try to overcome them? Is his supervision a real thing or is it merely 

 for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of the school? 



