The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-02-27
most ayailable competent man for tie

most available competent man for ths
position.
Why measure a man by his politi
cal preferment when his value to the
community depends upo1 something
entirely foreign to it? The ups and
downs of political parties should not
affect the school system. This is an
institution too sacred and toe dear
to the people to he sacrificed in the
least. If a superintendent has improv
ed his schools, raised the standard
of his teachers, and thoroughly arous.
ed the educational sentiment of his
people then the tenure of his office
should continue no matter what his
political convictions may be.
If the general government considers
it for the public good to place a great
army of officials under the protection
of a civil service commission then
we argue, it is the duty of every state
also, to remove its school officials
from political influence.
The authority, the delegated rights
of every form of organized govern
men in a democracy should bark back
o the people. This doctrine is as
true as 1t is popular in this country.
The public will must have an oppor
tunity' to remedy every evil and check
every abuse. This is done in three
ways: ID by submitting a change
of policy directly to the people, CD
by changing the official personnel by
election Or appointment, (3) and sim.
ply by the expression of public opin
ion. In a local executive officer like
the one under consideration, whose
shortcomings are limited mostly to
those of incompetency and neglect
of duty, the third method of corree.
ton is sufficient. But the measure
proposed allows the use of the second
method also. The people elect for a
definite term of service, the powers
of a board are not generally thus i'm.
tied. The method of election by the
people allows the Incompetent ofic-
ial to continue unless he is legally re.
moved, the method OF election by a
board allows an opportunity to re
move him at will. Thus from every
point of view we find the advantages
in favor of the board plan of elect.
ing the superintendent of schools. But
what board shall be instructed with
this power?
The creation of a special board for
this purpose would be expensive and
impracticable in this country of mag
nifcent distances. The territorial
board of education is the one that can
serve the people best in this capaci.
ty. Its professional knowledge, its
wide acquaintance with the education
al conditions of the territory, and its
very constitution itself make it not
only the most logical but the most
competent and most available body
for the task. The governor n the
superintendent of public instruction,
are members of this board ex-officio,
They both frequently visit various por
tions of the territory. The former
takes this upon himself voluntarily
the latter is required to do SO by law
The heads of the various institutions
are not only widely distributed, but
il their canvas for students and their
presence before teachers institutes
cry phase of the educational work.
The whole board is thus in the clos
est touch with the educational wants
and needs of every locality. This
board cannot be composed, according
to law, of other than competent per
sons of the highest integrity. Person
al favoritism and political preferences
have never entered into its delibera-
composition never will. Besides this
board stands at the head of the edu.
%cational interests ofsthe territory and
to make these subordinate officials
responsible t O it is calculated to give
the whole system a dignity. that will
command the respect of educational
people everywhere.
To you who now have al opportu
nifty to inaugurate in New Mexico ons
of the best school systems of the un
ion these facts are respectfully sub
mitted.
c.. NJ. LIGHT.
New Mexico Normal School, Feb
20, 1907.