An Analysis of the Activities of Rural-School Supervisors

Abstract

During the past decade the task of training rural teachers in service has been undertaken in many states through the appointment of rural-school supervisors working under the direction of the county superintendent of schools. The situation faced by these supervisors has been a difficult one. The average county is more than fifteen hundred square miles in area. It contains on the average eighty-four school buildings, of which sixty-five house one-teacher schools. The average number of teachers per county is 132. Because of their short period of training in rural teacher-training institutions and their meager experience in teaching positions, rural teachers are less capable of self-direction than are teachers in urban schools. In addition to the supervisory duties confronting the rural supervisor, administrative tasks demand much time and attention.