The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-13
The State Superintendency.

The editor of the Minnesota School
Journal is in receipt of the following
as to- the office of state su-
perintendent from F. E. @Lurtin of Pres
ton, Mimi; .'-...
The office of state superintendent Is
educational, not political; therefore, the
selection of the individual who is to oc-
cupy the place ought to rest with the
school men of the state. At the same
time they should act in an advisory rather
than an authoritative capacity. Accord
ingly the following plan is suggested,
which. should it meet with favor, could
easily be enacted into law by the efforts
of the Legislative committee of the Min
nesota Educa tional association:
Commencing with the year 1906, and
biennially thereafter, a committee " COM
posed of the presidents of the high school
council, the graded school and the county
superintendents' sections of the Mime
sofa Educational association shall, on the
third Monday in November, send to each
county superintendent. to each principal
of a graded school listed with and receiv
ing aid from the state as such, and to
each superintendent of a system Of
schools containing a high school, likewise
listed&and aided by: the state, q ballot and
printed return envelope, with instructions
to vote for three school men, in the order
of his preference, for the position of state
S
the hands of the chairman of the commit
tee, he being named by the committee
itself on or before noon of the first Mon
day in December. The committee shall
proceed Immediately to canvass the re-
turns, and shall certify, under oath, to the
| governor elect the names of the three men
| who have received the highest number of
votes certifying them in the order of the
highest number of votes cast for them.
From these three the governor shall APP
ponit the state superintendent.
The communication arrived too late
for the next issue of School Education,
and the editor passed it on, to T h 9
Journal with his Endorsement Of it
as good thing.
1t certainly is an interesting PROPOSE
ton, and we can see no objection to its
adoption. 1t looks like an effective way
in which to take the office Of state SUI
perintendent of public instruction out OF
=. politics, which would certainly be q
very desirable thing to do. We are not
aware that politics has interfered with
the wisdom of appointments to this
office, but the governor who makes the
appointment, would doubtless gladly be
relieved of the responsibility as far as
possible; and if this plan were in opera
ton there would be no danger of thi:
office becoming a political position IL
the future. Certainly nobody is SO wei
qualified to judge Of the fitness of pos
sible candidates for this office as thu
teachers and superintendent of public
schools. The only thing that occurs t.
us as an amendment is to provide tina
the privilege of voting be extended t.
every teacher actually employed. Tha
carries it down to all the actual worker
, in the educational field and woul
doubtless produce more satisfactor:
result. -.~~~---.. -s---
In the meantime, and without wait
ing for any law on the subject, it woul
be quite practicable for any governor
confronted with the duty and the re
sponsibility Of selecting state supe,
intendent Of public instruction, to adop
. this plan and appoint the man most az
Z proved by the school men and women O
the state.