The Indianapolis journal., 1898-11-25

would let me know what you think of the
method of forming State Board of Educa-
ton such as is now in vogue in this State
how the Indiana State Board of Education
stands for efficiency among other state
boards of education in the United States,
and what you consider the best method of
forming a State Board of Education"
Replies to nearly all of the letters have
been received and among other things the
following sentiments were expressed:
President j. G. Schurman Cornell Uni
versity-The schools of Indiana rank So well
that should suppose the board to be eff
cient.
President Charles W. Eliot, Harvard--The
present organization of the state board of
Indiana seems to me superior to one COM
posed of eX ofhcio members other than ed
ucational experts
M. G. Brambaugh, Professor of Pedagogy,
University of Pennsylvania-The State
Board of Education of Indiana has always
seemed to me to be properly constituted
to serve the best interests of the common
wealth. 1t seems to me manifestly unwise
20 include In purely civic organization the
officers of denominational institutions. Edu-
cation by the State is best promoted by
eliminating all possible sectarian Influences
G.. Stanley Hall, President Clark Univer-
sity, Worcester think it would be a
calamity to the educational system of a
State TO admit denominational institutions
to a representation in its board of control
| am strong denominational man myself
but I think higher and more impartial rep
resentation should prevail In q state board
States that admit this principle show the
results that justify the principle. a State
university, e. g., as the University of In
in all matters where it has interests. 1t
educates leaders. and that is what is chiefly
needed in our civilization. do not see
how the existing organization of the state
board could be improved. 1t is far better
than that of my State, Massachusetts.
President T. G. Mendcnhall, Worcester
Polytechnic Institute-I know of no other
State in which the board of education is so
completely removed from political influ-
ence as in Indiana, and I sincerely trust
that nothing may occur to interfere with
this very desirable state of things.
President David S. Jordan, Stanford Uni
Versity-The State Board of Education has
done a great work for the schools or In
diana, and "a large part of its effectiveness
has been due to it's freedom from personal
or political pressure; l regard the criticism
that denominational colleges are not rep
resented in this board as too puer1le to need
answer. 1t is the duty of those engaged in
education under State auspices to main
tain and strengthen the institutions found
ed and controlled by the State. This should
be done without antagonism from those
institutions as well. When private institu-
lions take the position of obstructionists or
of opponents to higher education under
public auspices, they become enemies to the
public school system. and, in so far, they
place themselves outside the aVowed pur-
pose of forwarding the interests OF higher
education.
Normal School-The constitution of the
state Board of Education of Indiana seems
to me to be an ideal one. i am fairly well
acquainted with the organization of the
educational system of the States. The
board of Indiana is professional and direct
ly interested in schools and education, and
familiar with school interests. as is true
with the State organization nowhere else,
so far as l am acquainted
j. w. jerks Professor OF Economies, Cor
nell-If ] were to draft a law providing for
a state board of education | should GER
tanly provide for an ex officio board,
President J. NJ Greenwood, National tdu-
rt0ti a as "A
present constituted embodies and represents
fully the public school interests OF the State,
and 1T possesses within Itself all the ele.
ments of strength and progress regulated
by sufficient checks and balances to keep
the school system in close touch with the
people of the State.
University should expect such a board
to perform it's duties with unusual intelli-
gence and fidelity.
University-It seems to me that the per-
sonnel Of the State Board of Education of
Indiana is all that can reasonably be de-
sired. ] say nothing of the denominational
colleges in this connection simply because
there is absolutely nothing to be said There
is no possible union between church and
state in education, no more than in any
other direction.
William II. Harris, Commissioner of Fsdu-
cation-In reply to request for suggestions
rega riding the reorganization of the State
Board of Education of Indiana l would say
that it seems to me important to retain the
present organization Oh the state DOaru with
some enlargement Three cities are repre-
sented in the present Board of Education,
namely Evansville, Fort Wayne and In
dianapolis. 1t seems to me that the superin-
tendents of other cities should be added,
perhaps when they reach a population of
1900 or more. This would add New Albany
South Bend and Terre Haute Circum-
stances of which / am ignorant may make
this unadvisable. | think that the State
Board Of Education in the past has been
one of the most efficient boards of educa-
ffaya in, tbe Unit cd ho1 Z he
whole more efficient than any other. The
Massachusetts State Board of Education is
appointed by the Governor. IN case the
plan of adding the Superintenderts of three
more cities to the State Board should not
seem feasible it might perhaps be well to
have the Governor appoint three citizens
OF course it would never do to have de-
as such, but a flourishing denominationaI
school having become an important educa-
tional agency in the State, would there be
any objection to the Governors appoint
ment of its president on the Board of Edu-
cation simply as citizen?
John M. Coulter, Professor of Botany, Chi
cago University-My own experience on the
State Board showed me that no partisan
movement is possible and that no selfish
absurd to exclude from the State Board the
highest representatives of the state system
of education. This would mean that the
state system of education could not recog-
niZe itself. AS to the wisdom of admitting
representatives of other interests to the
board / am not clear. That about which
am clear is that the men who are now ex
officio members should always belong, no
matter whether others are added or not.