Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-04

ana there is probably not Il happier
man n the State of Maine
In many Maine towns the usual no.
iitcai nghtS Tor the position of superin-
tehdeht CT schools are being waged
win even greater bitterness than in
years past. All contests for the Office
OF superintendent of schools and all ar
ticleS III the warrant, to elect a SUPER
lhtendent of schools" are useless, since
the last Legislature passed Il law pro-
V:dlng that school boards shall elect
their OWN superintendent. Following
is a copy of the law as passed by the
Legislature.
CHAPTER 100.
AN ACT to amend Chapter three hun
dred thirty-two of the Public Laws
OF eighteen hundred ninety-seven.
relating to the powers and duties of
school committees and the manner of
clecting town superintendent.
Be it enacted, etc:
Section l. Section one of Chapter
three hundred thirty-twO of the public
laws of eighteen hundred ninety-seven
is hereby amended by inserting be-
tween the words annually" and elect
in the seventh line of said section the
words and as often as the vacancy
shall occur: and furthermore by strik-
irg out after the word committee" in
the ninth line of said section the follow
ing words. namely; 'hul any town may
elect a superintendent of schools by
ballot at the regular town meeting so
that said section, as amended, shall
read as follows.
Section l. Chapter eleven of the re-
Vlsed statutes. as now amended, is fur
tier amended by adding thereto the
following section:
Section 129. The mana cement of
TIE schools an the custody and care in
Guiding repairs and insurance on school
buildings and of all school property in
Gerry town, shall dcvClve upon Il super
Intending school committee which shall
annually, and rs often as q vacancy
shall occur. elect q superintendent Of
schools who shall not be member of
the committee, who shall be. eXofficio
secretary of the committee
Section >. All acts and parts of acts
inconsistent with this act. are hereby
repealed.
Section 3. This act shall take effect
when approved.
(ApprOved March 49,
THE proper thing for aspirants for
| the position to do. is to get on good
terms with members of the school
board" says 4 State official:
In cases where articles for the cleo
| ton of Il superintendent have been
placed in the town warrants, what
method shall be folowed?" was asked.
The town will merely vote to pass
over it. For many years prior to the
pas sing of this law. superintendent of
schools We're elected by the school
board instead of by the citizens in some
| towns. But in the majority of cases
the Office was filled by the citizens in
open town meeting. In the latter case
| it often followed that the best qualified
| candidate did not secure the position
| and in addition to this the successful
man was not always the choice of the
tendent and board were clashing con-
] tinualiy. 1t long has been customary
for city school boards to employ their
own superintendent. There is to town
Office that should be out of politics so
much as this one. and there is no better
way of filling the office than to leave
| the matter with the experimenting
school committee. The new law is
welcomed by the people throughout
Maine