The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1905-12-14
Change the Regent Law

At certain intervals ever since this
state was admitted to the union there
have been mufmurs of disapproval
against the actions of the State Regents
of Education in their management OF
the state institutions under their con-
troll. The REGISTER has for years
held and still holds the position that
the regents are not entirely to blame,
as the trainers of the constitution of
this state insisted in having the law
governing state regents read as fol-
lows: "No resident of a county in
which one of these institutions is
situated is eligible as a member of the
board Of regents In other words
the regents of education are restrained
from having or acquiring a full
knowledge of their duties as regents
or the requirements of the schools.
They only know by hearsay what is
necessary for the welfare of the insti-
tuition. This lack of knowledge has
led them into many Il pitfall. The in
situations are run in a slipshod man
ner. Intrigue, spite and jealousy are
fostered and allowed to grow in the
faculties and all the regent knows
about the trouble is what he hears
from some member of the faculty when
he occasionally visits the institution.
AS the members of the faculty, who
are peaceful and are content to attend
to their duties never attempt to inter-
fere with the regent or advise him,
naturally enough so long as he knows
nothing about the school he is ready
to listen to those who are jealous or
have a spite against some one. This
is bound to cause trouble when, If the
regent were either elected by the peo-
pie, Or appointed by the governor and
given a salary sufficient to command
the best men to be had, and then each
regent was required to live in the town
where the educational institution to
which he was appointed regent is To-
Gated, who will question that the
officer would not be in better position
to know the requirements of the school
and to squelch any trouble that might
arise? The REGISTER advocates a law
patterned after the state regents law of
Wisconsin which is entirely different
from the provisions Of the constitution
of South Dakota and in the main is as
follows:
A regent is appointed for each insti-
tuition of learning. He shall be a
resident of the city in which he has
supervision. He shall receive a salary
of $500 per annum for his services
and shall give an indemnity bond
for the faithful performance Of his
duties and for the safety of all funds
entrusted to his care. He shall have
full charge of the finances of the insti-
tuition and with the approval of the
president shall engage or discharge
any professor or other employee of the
institution. He shall superintend all
building construction or repairs and
in fact be responsible for the safety
and well being Of the institution.
These regents shall collectively form
the state board Of regents and once
each year shall assemble and adjust
all accounts and outline the work for
the preceding year. The regents as q
board shall actcollectively upOnthe dis
charge or engaging OF a president of
any of the institutions.
OF course there is more to the law,
but it is the REGISTERS belief that
the points above mentioned would
work wonders in doing away with the
wrangle in the various insti-
tutions, none of which have ever been
working as systematically or as har-
m%oniously as they should. From this
on the REGISTER wishes to be under
stood to be absolutely opposed to the
present regent law and will do all it
can to effect a change, nor do we stand
alone in this.