The Monticellonian., 1908-12-24
Recommends State Education sosr1..

cnt Of public instruction has com.
pleted his biennial report, which he |.
will present 10 the governor some time |
during this week. The report is vol
luminous and will contain many |
illustrations of an educational nature. |
Following are the recommendations |
contained in State Superintendent |
Cooks report.
AT present the entire control and |
direction of the educational forces of |
the state are in the hands of the
superintendent of public instruction.
1t would be a mistake to divide the
executive authority, but the duties of
the executive officer are SO
manifold and the educational interests
of the state are SO many. so varied,
so extensive and so important, that TO
advise the superintendent of public
instruction and to assist him in the
care and promotion of these interests
there should be created a state board
of education, with broad and elastic
powers and comprehensive duties.
The establishment of such board
would be a desirable and a deserved
recognition of the importance and
dignity of the educational work of the
state Such a board, wisely selected,
would be effective in developing and
sustaining public sentiment in favor
of the highest and best things in
education 1t would hold before the
teachers and the school officials, and
the public as we'll, high ideals with
respect to schools. BY Systematically
organizing and directing the education
al forces of the state, IL would prevent
the overlapping OF the work of educa-
tional institutions and eliminate vast
legislation becomes necessary, it
would be instrumental in formulating
the needed enactments and Il secur-
ing their passage. Above ALL it would
protect the schools from fragmentary,
iH-advised, needless or hostile legisla-
ton. With appropriate powers as
! signed to such board, the school
system would grow and expand with
! Out special legislation for needed
changes could be made by the board
itself.
In view of the advantages to be
derived from such an educational
agency, already demonstrated in the
majority of states. we are disposed
to recommend that state board of
education be constituted in accord
anee with the following plan:
The state board of education shall
consist of seven members. The super
intendent of public instruction shall be
chairman ex-ofIicio These members
shall be appointed by the governor,
the superintendent of public instruc-
ton and the chief justice of the
Supreme Court. and in their appoint
ment due consideration shall be given
to the various phases of the educa-
tional interests in the state.
The term of Office of the appointive
members shall be seven years.
The powers and duties of the board
shall be as follows;
l. To have general supervision and
inspection of the public schools of the
state, including the educational de-
partments of tie state charitable and
reformatory institutions.
L.
ton of any part of state school fund
set aside to assist and encourage
schools
3. To prepare and distribute plans
and specifications for the conSruc-
ton and equipment of schools.
A. To provide suggestive courses
of study for rural, elementary and
high schools
5. To prepare all questions for
teachers examinations, to grade all
examination papers and to prescribe
all rules and regulations necessary
to carry into effect the provisions OF
the law in regard to the certification
| of teachers
6. To propose plans for organiza-
tion of institutes.
Z. To prescribe rules and regula-
tions for the sanitary inspection of
school buildings, and for the examina-
| ton of pupils In order to detect con-
tagious and infectious diseases and
physical defects, and to take such 9TH
er action as may seem necessary and
expedient to promote the physical
welfare of school children.
s. To classify and standardize the
public schools and to provide for new
forms OF educational efforts, and in
general to take such action as may
be necessary to promote the organiza-
ton and increase the efficiency Of
the educational system OF the state.
Carter CLANCY, the young son OF
Elmo CLANCY, was Saturday morning
crushed in the press OF the cotton
gin at Brinkley He was internally
| injured and may die.