Give To Superintendent His Proper Prerogatives

GIVE TO SUPERINTENDENT HIS PROPER PREROGATIVES.

In another column of this issue of the Argus is a communication from an esteemed correspondent relative to local school matters which is pertinent to that issue just at this time. The writer has had years of public school experience before becoming a member of the University faculty and consequently his judgment is deserving of consideration and should carry weight.

The Argus can cheerfully endorse the position of its correspondent as set forth in the article referred to. The Argus heartily endorses the principle that the professional head of the school system should have his say in all purely educational matters. Teachers should not be selected or dismissed without his sanction. Neither should textbooks be put into the schools without his approval, nor should any member of the board of education assume to prepare detailed courses of study for the schools, nor should the schools be without such detailed courses of study as was the case in this city for years. All these things belong within the province of the professional head of the schools rather than with the teachers and textbooks committee. And yet the Argus understands that all these things have been done in Ann Arbor without the superintendents endorsement and in some cases even in opposition to his judgment. Control by committees of the board to such an extent is an assumption of the proper prerogatives of the superintendent and is detrimental to the best interests of the schools.

It is scarcely to be expected, however, that the superintendent will be given the full and complete authority in such matters that should be his, as is now done in Cleveland, until the superintendent status is a little more clearly defined by law in this state than it is at present. It will be remembered that he was never given this full and complete authority which he now has in Cleveland until a new special act was passed by the legislature conferring upon him such authority. The Argus would be delighted to have such authority specifically given our superintendent by statute, or have it placed in his hands fully and completely by the board. It has no doubt but that would be for the advancement of public school interests and that, too, very materially. But in the meantime, while the status of the superintendent with reference to the board of education is what it is legally, the Argus believes the policy of the Ann Arbor board in the before mentioned matters is radically wrong and that it has resulted many times in placing in our schools other than the best teachers, etc.

And the Argus maintains that the substantial doing of these things by committees is more reprehensible and liable to abuse than the doing of them by the board, for this method in substances divides the board into cliques, as it were, each depending for the success of its policy upon practically its unquestioned support of the other committees. The Argus is informed that it is only rarely that a committee report is upset by the board. In fact the transaction of business by this scheme of making the committees all but supreme necessitates supporting means and measures which might not otherwise command the support of members. This is objectionable and should be corrected. The educational interests of the district can undoubtedly be advantaged by increasing the authority of the superintendent in certain directions and withdrawing a portion of the authority of the committees of the board.

There are those among our citizens who seem to think public school matters are too sacred to be discussed in newspapers and by the public in general. But when the time comes that this idea is general, if it ever does, then will be the time when this most important interest will suffer. Public discussion of any public interest is not detrimental to that interest. Such discussion always indicates a wide awake concern on the part of those interested and results generally in advantage to the public interest. That such a great interest as the public schools should arouse earnest discussion is healthful. Should they run along year after year without any friction or discussion such a condition might indicate entire lack of progress. But such a condition is pretty certain not to exist where the people are aroused by discussion. All progress comes through controversy and clashing of ideas. Public opinion where properly expressed is supreme in public matters in this country and that opinion is awakened and educated through reading and discussion, and this is just as true in school matters as any other. Public opinion is not always right, but it is more apt to be right when educated through reading and discussion than when these elements are lacking. The public schools will be advantaged by the discussion which has taken place. Any one who is too tender to have his or her doings in public positions discussed should promptly retire from such position.

Alderman Heineman, of Detroit, recently visited Great Britain and he has returned full of the idea of municipal ownership. Undoubtedly municipal ownership is a success in Great Britain. Undoubtedly many advantages would be obtained for the people here through municipal ownership, but it can scarcely be expected that we could ump into all the advantages they have obtained there at once. To begin with we do not get as able a class of men here in our municipal offices as they do in Great Britain. But better officials will come with time and increased responsibilities.

A candidate on one of the anti-caucus tickets predicted that the people would be heard from upon the issues which had been thrust into the school campaign. That from one point of view was a very safe prediction, but not in the sense this candidate intended it. The people have been heard from and that candidate will not sit on the board of education. There is no doubt but that the people intended to be heard from in a way that could not be misunderstood.

Pontiac has achieved a notable record. She has made a success of the state fair and has a big balance on he right side. No one claims either that the fair was not a good one from the point of view of the exhibits. Pontiac should continue in possession of the fair under these circumstances, for one or more years to come. Then if there be some other city that can make a better record let it go there.