The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-02-27
An Amendment Which Must
Come Before the People.
IMPORTANT QUESTION TO DECIDE.
To Make His Election Similar to Judicial
Ones.
SUPERINTENDENT HARyEY'S CIRCULAR.
Need of a Change Which Has the Endorse
ment of the Very Best
Educators.

A circular has been sent out by Sup
erintendent of Public Instruction L. d.
Harvey, bearing upon the election OF
State Superintendent The following
excerpts can be read prottably by the
voters because they must ballot upon
the amendment;
"The following proposed amendment
to the constitution Of Wisconsin was
agreed to by the legislature of 1899 and
1901. Chapter 258, laws of 1901 pro-
vides that the amendment shall be sub
mitted TO a vote of the people of the
state at the next general election, in
November, 1902.
90 PROVISIONS OF AMENDMENT.
Section /. The supervision of public in
struction shall be vested in a state sup
erintendent and such other officers as
the legislature shall direct; and their
qualifications powers, duties and COM
pensation shall be prescribed by law
The state superintendent shall be chosen
by the qualified voters of the state at
the same time and in the same manner
as members of the Supreme court, and
shall hold his office for four years from
the succeeding first Monday in July
The state superintendent chosen at the
general election in November, 1902
shall hold aud continue in his office un-
til the first Monday in July, 1905, aud
his successor shall be chosen at the time
of the judicial election in April, 1908.
The term of office, time and manner of
electing or appointing all other officers
Of supervision of public instruction shah
be fixed by law
THE proper administration of the Of
fee affects the interests of nearly half a
million pupils in the public schools. The
state superintendent comes into official
relations with more than 10000 school
officers and with the 10, 900 teachers of
the common schools. He passes upon
the qualifications of the 700 high school
teachers, and of the $50 teachers in the
state graded schools. The proper dis
charge of his duties directly affects the
character of the work done in the schools
of the state, for the maintenance of
which s., 600, 900 are expended annually,
and in which nearly one-fourth of the
entire population of the state are receiv-
ing instruction for not less than seven
months each year
1t is the only state office requiring g
constructive and organizing work This
work must be carried on continuously
and intelligently in order that the school
system may keep in pace in improve
ment with changing conditions, and
with the necessities of the people. The
state superintendent is called upon for
information and advise in all matters
relating to school legislation, and to the
administration of the school laws. His
various duties bring him into close Of
fetal relations with people of all politi-
cal opinions, and in matters which
should be decided without reference to
political bias.
"Of all the offices in the state govern
ment, it is the one which should be en-
tirely free from political influences or
bias. For this reason this officer should
be chosen because of his professional
and administrative ability in education
al work and not because of his political
belief. This Office should be put upon
the same plane as the Judiciary, where
men are elected because of their fitness,
and at the spring election, when no
political issues divide parties.
The proposed amendment aims to
take this office out of politics by putting
the election in the spring, at the same
time the judges are elected"