The Adjustment of the Duties of the Supervisor to Those of the Principal

Abstract

In cities where there are strained relations between the supervisors and the principals, the situation usually may be relieved by a clear definition of the functions of each group. Wherever there is doubt about the field of activity of any executive or wherever there is overlapping of authority, there are likely to be frequent occasions for misunderstanding and frequent conflicts of will. In a well-organized school system the principal is the direct representative of the superintendent in his school; he has full charge of the school and is responsible to the superintendent for his official conduct. The principal occupies a commanding position in the school system. He is the field officer directly responsible for the educational campaign in his district. Supervisors, on the other hand, are the special advisers of the superintendent in matters of policy relating to their departments. They are the experts to whom the superintendent must look for assistance in making decisions with regard to matters on which he needs technical and professional advice. The superintendent may assign supervisors to specific tasks in the various school buildings of the city. When a supervisor enters a school building, he comes within the jurisdiction of the principal of the school and should not undertake to make any radical changes or to introduce any policies without the knowledge and consent of the principal. It is only by an arrangement of this kind that a conflict of authority can be avoided. Just as the supervisor is the technical adviser of the superintendent, so should he be the technical adviser of the principal. Both superintendent and principal will do well to lean heavily on their technical advisers. As the superintendent may disregard the supervisor's advice because he is convinced that there is a better way to