Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-01-26

feel justified, therefore, IN saying that the
lack of salary would do very little to check
the mad scramble for positions upon a
State board of education. should such a
body be- established by the Legislature.
But this matter woulI be further com
picated by the duty of electing the State
superintendent of schools, which it
is urged should be lodged in this
board Now everyone knows that
there would be a multiplicity of candidates
for this office, many of them gentleman of
considerable prominence and political in
fuence. The aim of each of these gentle
n, N would be to bring influence enough to
b ar to secure the appointment to the board
of persons favorable to his candidacy. In
the meantime, while all this hustling is 60
ing on. the men and women who, in the
OF inion of the Pedagogical Society, would
be best fitted to serve on a board of edu-
ep,ion would be out of the swim. There
b, ing no salary attainable, they would not
be tempted to the undignitied course of
seeking such positions by political meth
DDS. VIVA, would be the result:
They would come before the Governor OF
the State. the chosen representative of all
its people, with practically no backing.
lille on the other hand the hustlers who
knew how to secure strength and were not
raid to strive for it, would BE- on hand
with backings that would justly entitle
Item to official consideration. The Cover
nor will unquestionabls be actuated by Il
desire to serve the best interests of the
State. but in making his decisions he can
not be expected to leave out of account the
expressed wishes of his constituents
1t is therefore ttopian to imagine
that the selection of State board
of education or the election of State sup
erintendent of schools can be divorced from
politics. 1t can't be done, and in dealing
with this matter il is best 10 look the cold
facts in the face and not indulge IN the
visionary theories that will not, and, in the
very nature of things cannot materialize.
We have been surprised, since it is the
evident belief of the Pedagogical Society
that the school matters of the State should
be largely left in the hands of its educators,
that it has not advocated leaving the
selection of the members of the pro-
posed State board to county teachers
associations, placing the bulk of the work
TO be done in the hands of an executive
committee.
There is no subject which directly inter-
ests greater number of the people of our
State than the question of good schools.
and it is right that due recognition of this
popular interest. as well Of popular sovsr-
eighty. should be made ia any educational
scheme that may be devised. We have no
doubt. despite the practical politics that
would inevitably enter into the matter,
that any State board OF education which the
Governor might appoint would be in every
way qualified for the faithful and intelligent
discharge of its duties. We also believe
that any appointment he might make as
State superintendent of schools would he
AS well suited to the place, as any that
would be likely to be made by State boarl
of education. Indeed We believe the
Governor of the State could be mu,h better
| relied upon to secure the right man for the
place. We appreciate the earnest devotion
of the Pedagogical Society TO the ednca-
tionaI interests of our State and the grand
work it has done. and is sioing for their ad-
sancement. and only hope that the reforms
il may urge upon the attention of our law
makers may not fail to take into account
the practical facts of our public life.
We live under political governments and
| when we imagiLe that we eau create public
1 office and remove them from the operation
of political methods" we are indalgiug in
flights of fancy doomed to 'lisapE ointmcnt.