The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-12
STATE EDUCATION BOARD
LEGISLATURE WILL BIZ ASKED TO
MAKE 4 CHANGE IN THE LAW.
SO That It's Members Be Appointed by
state Graduates Protected.

Il
from the State has been busily at work on
plans for securing change in the law gov
erning the selection of the State Board of
| Education. This organization desires that
the law be changed so as to vest the ap-
pointment of the board in the Governor,
and that the graduates of nonstate colleges
be given equal privileges in public-school
employment with graduates of state-aided
institutions. IN furtherance of the cam
paign in this behalf the appended letter was,
| in the latter part of October, sent to all
candidates for the Legislature:
Dear Sir-It is generally conceded that
educational questions will come prominent
| ~ before the next session of the State
/ Legislature. In view of this fact, the IN
dersigned has been commissioned by the
| members Of the Association of Indiana Nom
state College Presidents to set forth in few
words the position which they have con-
| tinuously occupied since the opening Of the
statements which they have made to the
| public from time to time, and the corre-
spondence between the State Board of Edu-
cation and themselves, connected with their
attempt to reach by compromise an har-
fnOniOus adjustment which has recently
been given to the press by a member of that
ments:
Il. The constant effort of the nopstate
presidents has been to have all factors of
education in the State acknowledged in its
legislation, and to find so broad a foundation
that both state institutions and those sus-
tanned by private benevolence may, stand
Ter the further advance of education in In
diana. They have, therefore. never opposed
the appropriation of state funds for the
support Of the states higher institutions of
learning. nor have they asked any share of
these funds for their own support. Not only
have they not asked representation ON the
of ~ - tfr,,, hut haxf
constantly declined to accept It. They have
simply sought such changes would unity
all interests and lead to harmonious prog
ress.
III. With this end in view, they have
asked for two things only:
i. They have sought such reorganiza-
ton of the State Board of Education as
will enable it to become. by common cons
sent an agency controlling and uniting ali
educational institutions, and advancing
through all of these collectively, as well as
through the public schools, the general
standard of education in the State. 1t is
evident that this cannot be done through
board upon which the heads % the higher
state institutions appear ex offlciis, as IS the
case at present with the Indiana board, but
only through board upon which no higher
institution, State or nonstate, shall be off,
cially represented. The nonstate presidents
have been perfectly willing that any, or all
of the gentlemen at the head of the state s
higher institutions should serve on such a
board in the, capacity of citizens of prom
inence actively engaged in educational work,
duly appointed by the proper authority,
and they have said so voluntarily and
heartily. Such reorganization Of the state
| board, for the end specified, Is the one great
point for which they are standing. They
took the initiative in an endeavor 70 intro
Guce into the coming Legislature, in joint
harmonious action with the state board, a
bill in which the above features shall be in
corporated. They prosecuted the matter
until the other side appeared to exhibit en-
tire unreadiness to act with them; they
are now left to submit such a bill them
selves, having as its object the furthering
of the interests of the state institutions as
much as those of their own and the ad-
vancement, through harmonized working,
of the entire educational life Of the State.
TEACHERS LICENSES.
SO. The nonstate college presidents have
also sought fairness in the matter of life
| licenses toward all educational institutions
supplying the State with teachers. If the
reorganization of the state board which
| they are seeking shall be obtained, viz: a
board without ex officio representation upon
it of the states higher institutions they are
then prepared to urge the adoption of prac-
| tically the proposition presented by the
state board in conference with the nom
state presidents. viz: ]. That the life license
| of graduates of the State Normal School
| shall qualify for teaching in the common
schools alone. 2. That life licenses, quail
| flying to teach in schools of any grade,
| shall be granted, without examination. by
| the reorganized state board to the graduates
Of any college or university of In
of not less than four years who shall subse-
| quently graduate from the State Normal
School or from any other professional school
for teachers which, i'm the judgment of the
State Board of Education, recognized as
above set forth, shall be of equal rank with
the State Normal School. Such life licenses
shall also be granted by the said State
Board of Education, without examination,
TO graduates of any college or university of
Indiana maintaining a standard course OF
not less than four years, who shall have
pursued in connection with, or subsequent
to- their college or university courses, a peo-
agogical course IF study OF not less than
one year in length and approved as to scope
and quality of work by the recognized
state board-provided that said pedagogical
course shall have been taken in addition
to the full number of credits required for
graduation in the institution from which
the bachelors degree is received; and pro-
vided further that all such college or UNI,
versity graduates. of either class, snail
present satisfactory evidence of their hav-
ing had successful experience in teaching
and school management for a period of not
| less than two school years subsequent to
their professional or pedagogical study
hereinbefore prescribed
such provisions as these the nonstate
presidents are confident will conserve all the
| interests of the higher state schools and Will
very greatly elevate the STANDARDS OF quail
feation on the part of Indiana teachers.
They are convinced that the efforts made in
the past to obtain life license for graduates
tended the State Normal School show con-
| clusiVely that the present situation is not
satisfactory TO the states higher institutions
| themselves They know that the situation Is
not satisfactory TO the teachers ana super
| Visors ofe the State in general, Iney, there-
| fore also intend, in connection with the Dill
| for reorganization of the state board, 10
! submit bill setting forth the above fea-
lures regarding life license believing strong
| lv that such legislation Will advance at the
| same time the interests of the states hlgh-
| er institutions and the entire educational lie
of Indiana.
WHY CHANGES ARE ASKED.
iii. The reasons of the nonstate presi-
dents for seeking the changes above men
toned have been sufficiently set forth. 1t
remains TO state briefly why they are not
satisfied with the existing condition. l. 1t Is
| UNIQUE in its injustice TO nonstate institu-
| tons. AS the result of a careful eXamina-
| ton Of the methods of state supervision in
| the several States, the nonstate presidents
are forced TO say that in no other State is
there a method of supervision so inimical TO
the welfare of nonstate institutions
/ of learning as is that OF lndi-
/ ana while our state board remains
| constituted as at present. The state hstltu-
/ tons of the surrounding states OF Mlchl-
/ prosperous. In Ohio there is no state board,
while on the boards of Illinois and Michi-
/ gan no state institution is represented. To
seek therefore such change as Is desired
| IN Indiana cannot be SAID 10 De ASKING LOT
/ a situation prejudicial in any respect 10 the
/ state institutions of higher learning. ,. The
present situation is sure, in the nature OF
/ the case, TO produce constant friction. IL has
/ already created in many minds strong
| prejudice against the state institutions.
/ xrbfoh IL steadily the increase. and