Supervision is evolving, and the definition of today may need to be revised tomorrow. At present a supervisor represents the superintendent in certain well defined lines. As a principal he may have charge of a building. He may have charge of two or more subjects in a smaller city. He may have charge of one subject in a city, county, or state.
FUNCTION OF THE SUPERVISOR
The first function of a supervisor is generally acknowledged to be improvement in classroom teaching. Let us place second the responsibility for a suitable course of study (in penmanship the selection of the text), and third, responsibility for standard methods whereby results may be measured.
LEADERSHIP A PRIME QUALIFICATION
Broad constructive leadership is the prime requisite for one who would take upon himself the arduous duties of supervisor, be it of one subject or of many. Each candidate should subject himself to a rigorous self-rating process before taking up supervision, and those in service should continue to look within. Many a situation would be saved to leadership and society if all who term themselves supervisors or even expect to some day become such would turn the white light of inspection upon themselves. It is not going too far to say that the prospective supervisor before launching himself should take unstinting pains to diagnose his ability as a leader.
PERSONALITY A NECESSARY QUALIFICATION
Supervisory positions are like others in that two main qualities are essential, namely, desirable personality and sufficient preparation. These essentials must be fairly well balanced in the person who is a candidate for a supervisory office. We are familiar with the type of supervisor who, though largely lacking scholastic attainments, is so pleasing as to give a certain desirable kind of service and who is therefore retained year after year. Compare such a supervisor with the reverse, the one who has all the professional degrees obtainable but who lacks the human touch. Neither type is entirely qualified.
Teachers are good judges. Consult almost any teacher-made list for desirable qualities, and you will find that the points that make up a desirable personality are given preference to scholarship and other phases of preparation.
Genuine leaders are always on the alert to improve themselves. When leaders are kind, constantly courteous, permit initiative, keep informed on current movements, exhibit tact, show industry, self-control, are optimistic, reliable, courageous, just, open-minded, progressive, sincere, tolerant; then, and then only, shall we cease to hear teachers speak of the worthlessness of supervision. (Perhaps poor supervision has been a large factor in fostering poor teaching.)
Physical strength to meet the numerous demands is an essential. Desirable, in fact, necessary requisites are pleasing manners, such as poise, refinement, good speaking voice, and self possession. The exercise of good taste in the matter of correct and tasteful clothing goes far toward obtaining and holding the respect of those with whom a supervisor comes in contact. Dress should be simple and appropriate, of excellent quality, and not too striking. It has been the observation of the writer that supervisors, both men and women frequently use such excruciatingly bad taste in the matter of apparel that those who come in contact with them are very unfavorably impressed. It does not take a great deal of imagination to realize why the “celluloid collar man” and the “overdressed” or “home made” woman is not a welcome adjunct in the classroom or at neighborhood gatherings.