New-York tribune., 1886-02-25
SUPERINTENDENT OF INSTRUCTION.
WHY HE SHOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE REGENFs
PROFESSOR COMFORTS ARGUMENTS.

WHY HE SHOULD BE APPOINTED By THE REGENFs
PROFESSOR COMFORTS ARGUMENTS.
ALBANY. Feb. 24-The Joint Public Educa-
ton Committees heard an argument to-day by Professor
Comfort OF syracuse University iavorng the appoint
mcnt of the Superintendent Of Public Instruction by the
Regents the University instead OF by the legislature
He argued that il would Introduce unity In the super
vision Of public education the Iart OF the state lie
spoke in part rs follows The present az kwaId double
headed mode OF supervision had historical origin and
development under conditions which have long since
ceased to exist. The common schools are no longer
mere primary schools for teaching the three Rs The
former delimitation between common and secondary
schools has been cfaccd By the advance In popular
educaton since schools established In this
state I'm the year 1912. All cities and most villages
have now systems OF graded schools which are con
stautly changing their methods and advancing their
standards. The limits Of jurisdiction In supervision Dy
the two heads OF public instruction are constantly
shifting and they often overlap each other IN the same
school In their relations to the state all the public
schools are parts OF organic whole, and they should
consequently be under a single systematic plan OF
Official supervision. In looking over the different
States and Territories OF our Union we hnd
great variety the methods OF supervising the
public schools and In appointing the superntenuohts OF
Public Instruction By the method which has worked
the best and has produced the best results there is
state Board OF Education The membership on tne
Board OF Regents as it IL now constituted Is not 700
largo for "a Board OF Education LOT tue great EnpHc
state larger than that OF boards OF trustees or
most coll ees universities, acHdeuics and seninarles
Professor Comfort also favored the bill because one OF
ia main OF cos tO remove the appcntnent ~ the
Suuerntenden OF Public Instruction from the innuence
and the dominion OF partisan politics ana from TIE
contingencies Of party supremacy To secure TINS end
the SUPERINTENDENT should DO appointed 10y non
PARTISAN body which is limited IN numbers and perma.
ncut I'm organization. such u body Ia the Board Ot
Regents OF the University The bill further commended
itself his Judgment becau II 10 was passed SupsI
tendcnt Public Instruction would be Responsible 10
somebody As II Is now, he holds his once for three
wears while the who take part In his election
hold hut two years aud the Assemblymen but one The
Superintendent naturally feels personal responsibility
TO The members OF Legislature who took no part in
lis election. What Is the result T. he asked. Is II
not true that the successful candidate feels that his
personal obligation to that section Of his own party
in the Legislature to which he is indebted for his NOM
luation and consequently his election Is not an
Incumbent of this high office liable to bo called uron to
do active work In the field during political campaigns ms
pary I'm for election thereto Ia there
not danger he may prOer such service as basis or
claim to election Can we imagine Horace Mann or
= $ Randall doing active political partisan work as
means or a condition OF reelection OF continuance In
the Office Of Superintendent OF schools Would such
course be tolerated the part OF local Superin
tondent in any OF our cities or villages T.
In concluding his remarks Professor Comfort said:
The Regents of the University have had no part what
ever originating this bill, either In their organic
capacity or as individuals Furthermore, IL has not
come to my knowledge that any Regent has done any
thing whatever to secure or aid It's Passage"