Albuquerque morning journal., 1907-02-26

pressed in the territorial press is
overwhelmingly against taking this
elective right from the people is not
borne out by The facts. The Las
Vegas optic and the Albuquerque
Journal and a majority of the weekly
papers of the territory have spoken
favorably of the measure. and many
of them are strongly urging its pas
sage.
Needs Elevation.
The Roswell Registcr-Tribune says:
in quoting the remarks Of Territorial
superintendent Hiram Hadley, to the
members of the territorial legislature
on the county superintendent question
we are but expressing sentiments that
we have long held ourselves, and
which we expressed IN print many
years ago There is absolutely no eX-
cuse in reason for the present plan of
selecting superintendeuts and every
reason why the office should be
filled by the territorial superinten-
dent. that being the only way to Sc
cure the degree of competence that
the office demands. No matter how
Jealous or conscientious The man may
be. ii is impossible for him to fill the
office intelligently unless he is educa-
tiOnally fit himself and has prac-
tical knowledge of pedagogy. 1t Is
to. be hoped that the assembly will
pass the law asked for by the Edu-
cational association. The office of
countM superintendent should be ele-
waited beyond mere dumping ground
for the hacks of both political parties,
who are seldom i'm the office for any
thing except what there is i'm it, who
care nothing for the real principle of
education. or if they do, have no
knowledge of how to advance it.
Present system Pcmicious.
The Carrzo2O outlook says:
We are in receipt of a circular let
ter sent out by Prof. Hiram Hadley
superintendent of public instruction
for the territory, which contains d
strong aud logical argument for q
change in our system of public schoo
management. This is a question which
should receive the thoughtful, we viii
almost say the prayerful. considera.
tion of all people who are interest ID
in the material welfare of the terri
tory. We do not wish to he under
stood as saying that New Mexico is
worse than other states and terrific
ries. but we do say that our present
system is perpiciouS in the extreme
and that an entirely new plan should
he adopted. For the education o
The young to be held up to the in
fluences of political favoriJism and the
} offices through which ii is directed
to be hartered out as rewards of meri
( for political service, Is both dangerous
and vicious in the extreme. That oul
school system is tOpheavy and cum
/ bersome. no honest thinking person
will deny. We are supporting many
( ins ituti0ns Of higher education I'm va
! rOus parts Of the territory, with high
Salaried professors and many large
and expensive school houses i'm smal
towns. which are not paid for. and The
I people of the district struggling un
der Il load of taxation while children
i'm hundreds Of rural districts are
/ without school for nine or ten month!
/ in the year, and in many instances d.
not see the inside of a school.
Any measure that will take The
! public schools out of politics anC
/ place them in a class by themselves
and under the direction Of men whost
/ interest is education and not office
should he a step in the right direc
/ ton.
! Too Much Politics.
! The Alamogordo Advertiser says:
The principal educators of New
( Mexico, backed by the people who de
sire the best public schools in all part
Of the territory, are endeavoring t.
( obtain legislation which will reGuir'
higher standard for county schoo
superlntendents. They are right II
many of the counties Of the territor!
men hold that important office a
mere political sinecures, having NJ
better qualifications than pic. Their
is too much politics in the office. an
II should be taken out Of politics en-
tirely The people want and mus
have educated superintendents VIII
will advance the schools In every par
Of the territory. The present legis
lature. or at least some OF the mem
bers. are contemplating legislation
which shall make women eligible 70
the office. We believe, that this is
step I'm the rlght direction.