Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-09
TO TAKE SCHOOLS
OUT OF POLITICS
STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
VOTES TO APPOINT SU-
PERINTENDENTs.

Des Moines. Jan. AIN face of the
allegation that the county superinten-
dents do not wish it themselves, the
state teachers association at its clos
Ing meeting yesterday decided that
the office of county superintendent
should be taken out of politics and
made appolntive rather than elective.
Even if the county superintendent
do not wish to legislate themselves
out of politics, the state association.
by its Endorsement of resolution
yesterday, assumed the initiative to
having that office removed SO far as
possible from politics by future legis-
lation
At meeting of the county super
intendents' section Thursday after
noon this question created much be-
hement discussion from the opposi-
ton. If the matter had been allowed
to come to vote and not quietly kill
ed by call for adjournment the gen
eral vote, 1t Is said, would have swung
the ninety-nine members entirely
against the question. The superlnten-
dents commended then, as they did on
the floor of the general session yes
terday afternoon, that the offices of
CIhSl pOdlNS sludI vi SLdlc
superintendent, should be placed in
the same plane. The association held
that the cases were not analogous, and
sustained the first motion despite the
protest of the county superintendents.
The association would ask that the
office of county superintendent be APP
potntive, the power resting in coun-
ty board to be appointed by the legis-
lature.
A Teacher Not Politician.
The association based its action on
its contention that the best interests
of the rural districts demanded quail
flied teacher and not political favor
lite and that the qualifications should
be as high as for the Office of state or
city superintendent The argument
was advanced on the floor that the
county superintendent was placed in
office by political party and when
that party went out the county super
intendent lost out and a new man
was placed in office. The county SUI
perintendent could not get another
office for which he was at that time
| fitted because of the present suprem-
acy of political power The amended
motion Of Prof. H. H. Frear of Cor
| nell college was passed.
Another incident that will have an
influence in the school management
and intended legislation was RESP
luton for truant officer appointed in
each county to enforce the truancy
law and which was adopted by the as
ISOLATION yesterday. 1t would ask that
every school board be compelled to
appoint an officer to enforce the tru-
ancy law.
Favor Certificate Law.
The state teachers association with
out dissenting vote voted yesterday
afternoon in favor of the present state
teachers certificate law and ask that
no major changes be made. There
are several smaller defects which the
association will leave to the educa-
tional commission to change in It's
work of recodification. The present
office of State Superintendent Riggs
was Endorsed and no attack was
made on the law enforcement. The
Hon. Henry Sabin offered the resolu.
ton for adoption.
A law is also asked by the asso-
citation providing for the minimum
wage scale for teachers in Iowa and
an increase for teachers salary based
on experience, success and scholar
ship.
The state teachers association may
not be held during tne Christmas holi-
] day again. BY change in constitu-
1 ton yesterday afternoon that part
making this compulsory was changed
and the selection Of such time and
date left to the executive committee
with the statement of the association
against winter holiday
1 Supt. e. e. Cooley Of the Chicago
! public schools addressed the associa-
ton last night on the educational val
ue Of 'fads''
"A thoroughly practical education
must go further than the three RS I"
said Supt. Cooley. ut will be one that
shall not limit us to these mere de-
tails; 1t will go deeper and rise high
er, and will not confine itself to the
teaching of the ordinary elementary
school
"The domination of the book in edu-
cation has continued down to the
present time, but this close devotion
to the practices and ideals of our
fathers is impractical today. A truly
practical education never can again be
confined to the study Of books.
i 1T is due to vague feeling of the
inadequency of the older ideal that
many of our so-called fads' were IN
troduced into our schools in recent
years. In every case, so far as l
know, these so-called fads' are sub.
4 jects that call upon the child to do
4 something rather than learn some