The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-02-27
PETITION ON COUNTY
SCHOOL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

To the Members of the 9th Legisla-
tive Assembly of New Mexico:
OF the various measures proposed
to the present legislative assembly
for the betterment of the New Mexico
rural school system none is of more
vital Importance tina the one which
seeks to secure a more, competent SUI
| perinte1dency. That a higher quail
fcation should be required of This of
fee and a more consecrated service
to the schools is conceded by all who
have written or spoken ~competently
upon the subject. The method of Sc
curing these objects seem to be the
only point upon which there is a diff
ference of opinion. Shall this officer
be elected by popular vote, or be cleo
ted by a representative board. Both
methods obtain in the U1ited States.
Surely that method should be adopt
ed, and will he adopted ultimately.
that has the greatest number of ad-
vantages in dts favor.
During the early history of this cou
ntry it was almost the universal prac-
tice to elect the superintendent of
public instruction by popular vote.
But now, all city superintendent are
elected by boards of education and al
most one-half of the states elect the
county or district superintendent by
a similar process. This reform has
given SO much satisfaction that none
of those who have adopted it have
returned to the old method. This of
itself should be sufficient to convince
of the wisdom of ~e1ecting all of
the school superintendents by the
board plan.
The choice of this officer should be
in harmony with the public will.
Seldom is this true of the old plan
but almost always true of the new.
In a popular election a candidate may
receive a majority of the votes cast
and still not be the choice of the
he aspires. Party machinery which
is controlled by a few, not only limits
the peoples choice as to the number
of candidates but often prevents the
free exercise of it. Not only so, but
it is a common observation hat other
influences beside fitness and honesty
secure votes when hes should be
the only considerations. For this We
ry reason many advocate the election
of the superintendent at some other
than the general election. But such
a plan, if there be no other objections
would be very cumbersome and expen
sive. The new plan, OF the other
hand, secures, as a rule, he mos
competent person for the position
This is the true peoples choice, for il
not so, the public will would be out
of line with the public good, which
doctrine would be a stigma upon the
intelligence of a fire. people.
The school superintendent is not a
clerical but an executive officer. His
very title signifies this. Supervision
implies a thorough knowledge both
by theory and actual practice of the
organization over which he exercises
control. This is he principle that
underlies all competent supervision
of whatever kind and school supervi
sion is not an exception. The salary
of county superintendents in mos
counties is large enough but compe
tent persons are loath to be thrown
into competition with the Incompetent
ones, or to make the effort, or fncuI
the expense of an election. Men OF
other occupations than teaching arr
generally elected to the office, prac
tice their own professions and count
the salary so much velvet The board
method obviates all these difficulties
The salary counts for its full value
The number considered for the posi-
Etion is not necessarily limited to ap
plicants those who r competent
and do moi apply may be solicited
Thus. It is possible. TO secure ths