in terms of changes in their own children and in terms of their value to the community. The definite periodic legal appraisal by the people will generally cover much longer time periods than in the case of appraisal by the Board of Education. A continuing process. The act of appraisal can in no sense be construed as final. In accordance with Board of Education policy, appraisal must be considered as a constantly recurring act through which formalization is avoided and increase in efficiency and growth is made possible. This activity is shown graphically in Diagram 31. II. RELATION TO POLICY The policy of the Board of Education is to provide for appraisal by every agent in the Hamtramck public schools in order to increase professional consciousness and responsibility, to capitalize all possible creative ability upon the part of its agents, and to make possible constant progress towards ever increasing instructional efficiency. The plan developed in this chapter attempts through careful organization of agents, upon every level, to provide channels whereby this policy may be achieved. The method of appraisal and the responsibility of every agent for appraisal has been carefully safeguarded through the establishment of routine procedures. III. EVIDENCE UPON WHICH SELECTION HAS BEEN MADE The organization of the appraisal activity was developed: (1) in accordance with the policy of the Board of Education; (2) upon the basis of the principles underlying functional organization, and (3) upon the opinion of specialists in the field of administration and instruction. IV. TECHNIQUE FOR DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PLAN The efficiency of the operation of the plan will be judged by Method D. The worth and value of the results of these activities in relation to the efficiency of instruction will be judged by Method D. A. Mandatory Laws. Part 1, Chapter 6. CHAPTER XV Public Relations Sec. 15-To print and publish immediately after each meeting in such manner as the Board shall decide, all proceedings of the Board, etc. Annual Reports. Part 1, Chapter 6. Sec. 15-To make an annual report. When made. Financial Report. Part 2, Chapter 5. Sec. -Annual and financial reports. When made. B. Permissive Laws. General. Part 1, Chapter 6. Sec. 15-And in general to do anything not inconsistent with this act which is necessary for the proper establishment, maintenance, management and carrying on of the public schools of such district. C. Interpretation by Board of Education. The state statutes, except for financial reports, do not require definitely any means through which the community is to be kept informed of the purpose, value, conditions, and needs of its schools. Neither does the law specifically prohibit the Board of Education from making plans for bringing the work of the schools before the people. The Board of Education has therefore interpreted the development of an informational policy, upon the rather broad powers in Section 15, Chapter 6, as one required because of size, number, and diversity of population. D. Adjustment to life needs in advance of formal legislation. The Board of Education considers itself as the agent of the state and of the people of Hamtramck in carrying out the will of the people to have public education. As the steward of the people the Board of Education is responsible to the people for an account of its activities. The problem of size, of varying educational levels, of racial complexity, and of numbers makes it necessary to provide in a formal way for continuous information, through many agents and agencies, to keep the people acquainted with the purpose, value, conditions, and needs of their public schools. The Board of Education has therefore provided for a policy which will make it possible to keep the people completely informed. I. THE PLAN Purpose The purpose of all Public Relations activity shall be to keep the people of Hamtramck fully and completely informed in respect to the purpose, value, conditions, and needs of their public schools. Organization The informational service, essential to keeping the people informed, shall be under the direction of the Superintendent of Schools, assisted by all of the agents in the school system. The problem of informational service may be considered in four divisions. Board of Education The first duty of the Superintendent is to keep the Board of Education completely and continuously informed of the condition in the schools, in order that the members may consider and appraise intelligently its several policies and approved means. This will be accomplished through periodic written reports upon the state of the schools, through social contact, through discussions and lectures by educational leaders, through the reading of professional magazines, through attendance at state and national educational meetings, and through visitation of local and other schools, with the executive, to determine conditions and needs as a result of visual osbervation. Agents The second problem is to keep the agents, both professional and non-professional, thoroughly familiar with the conditions and needs of the schools. The agencies through which these essential activities will be carried on are: a teacher's bulletin, or house organ; bulletins on methods and on conditions in the schools, meetings with the Superintendent, directors of instruction, and principals; through social contact; through attendance at professional meetings; through lectures by educational leaders, and through visitation and contact with other school systems. Children The children must be aware of the purpose and value of public education in a democracy. The agency through which this will |