An Evaluation of Items to Observe in Classroom Supervision

Abstract

One-hundred and six superintendents, supervisors and prin cipals at a recent meeting of school men assembled to discuss prob lems of classroom supervision made, at the writer's request, a list of the specific items of teaching usually observed by them in class room supervision. These lists were made upon the spur of the moment and are probably not as complete or as carefully stated as they might have been under more favorable conditions, but they nevertheless represent certain more or less interesting facts about the present status of classroom supervision. In the first place as one examines these materials, one is im pressed by the lack of agreement among supervisors as to the important characteristics'of teaching. These 106 supervisors sup plied 131 different items to observe, 72 of which were mentioned only once. It seems a bit as if each supervisor employed his own system of supervision. This matter is one of some importance since supervisors1 occupy positions of authority, hiring, dismissing and variously advising teachers according to these private systems of supervision. Are these various items important characteristics of good teaching? They seem like so many unvalidated test items, based upon the personal choices of the supervisors using them. A list of the twenty most frequently mentioned items is given below : What Supervisors Looked For in Classroom Supervision Frequency 1. Pupils' interest in subject. 30 2. Physical conditions in room. 24 3. Attitude of pupils. 18 4. Pupil activity. 17 5. Definite teacher aim. 15 6. Responsiveness of pupils. 15 7. Attitude of teacher. 14 8. General attitude of teacher and pupils. 13 9. Atmosphere of classroom. 12 10. Skill in teaching technique. 12 11. Evidence of teacher preparation. 10