The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-01-02
Special TO The journal.

Ane annu1 convention OF the State
Teachers Association He said:
Il wish to discuss briefly in the time
allotted me on this program some halt
dozen sorely-1eeded reforms in our
Florida system Of school government
realize, however, that to point out
defects In laws and customs sane
TONED by long usage, and found fairly
satisfactory by the large number who
are usually content to let well enough
alone is bold undertaking, especial
~ bold In one whose limited expert
enee denies him the privilege of
speaking with authority But thinking
people throughout the state have long
been aware that something is wrong
with our system of school control.
that there are some needed reforms.
ana so ] have selected this subject In
the hope that what I shall have to say
10 this body of teachers and school
officials may tend to crystallize
thought about some definite plans for
increasing the efficiency OF our school
machinery.
II shall maintain: <
First, that the state board OF edu-
cation should be so reorganfzed that a
majority OF it's members shall be edu-
cational experts;
Second, that the office of state SUI
perintendent should be made appoint
I've, and thus freed from the exigen-
cies OF political election;
Third, that county supervision
should be made more efficient by SUD
plying competent assistants in the
more popuHous counties, and by re-
curing professional qualifications of
all superintendents;
Fourth, that the laws governing the
examination and -certification of teach.
ers should be revised and improved;
Fifth, that adequate inspection of
state-aid high schools should be pro-
vided;
Sixth, that some provision should
be made in our larger cities for a city
system Of school government, indie
pendent Of county control
The State Board.
why should the state board of edu-
cation be reorganfzed? In order to an
swer this question intelligently, we
must first know the functions of the
state board. AS defined by law, their
duties are to manage all lands granted
by the state for educational purposes,
to provide for the safekeeping and ex-
penditure of all the educational funds
OF the state; to entertain and decide |
upon questions and appeals referred |
to them by the state superintendent: |
20 remove subordinate school officers |
for cause; to keep In view the estab- |
lishment OF schools on a broad and lib |
eral basis, the object of which shall |
be to impart instruction to youth in !
the profession OF teaching, in the |
knowledge or natural sciences, the the |
DRY and practice of agriculture, horti- |
culture, mining engineering, and the |
mechanical arts. in the ancient and |
modern languages, in the higher usage |
Of mathematics, literature, and in the |
HCAfnl and nnfol ihra 4
quoting) not taught in the common |
schools; and, finally, to cooperate |
with the state superintendent in the |
management OF the department and n |
the general diffusion OF knowledge In
the state.
Some OF these duties-namely, |
those In connection with the manase-
ment of state educational institutions |
have been considerably modified by !
the passage OF the Buchanan law. And /
yet, there remains enough compre-
hended in this one phrase alone-'to |
cooperate with the state superinten-l
dent IN the management OF the depart
ment, and IN the general diffusion of |
knowledge In the state to warrant a /
reorganization of the board so as to in
ciude among its members professional |
educators other than the state super
intendent The board, composed-ss
~ - ~ lu0 the
secretary of state. the. attorney-gen-
sral and the treasurer. together with
The state superintendent, cannot in
any adequate way cooperate with the
superintendent In the general diffusion
of knowledge throughout the state
The most helpful cooperation can
come from educational experts only.
In Other States.
.1n most Of the southern states-in
A 4
sfppi. Missouri, North Carolina and
Texas, particulsrly-the state board of
education is constituted, as 1t is in
Florida, OF state officials, and the
boards have duties similar to those OF
the state board OF education in Flor
ida II we looked to these states for
light on the subject we should doubt
less continue the present organization
of our state board. But, fortunately.
other states have seen the Importance
Of having trained educators on their
state boards OF education, and it is to
these states. 1t appears to me, we
ought TO look for guidance.
In South Carolina, for instance, the
state board Of education Is composed
OF the governor, the state superinten-
dent, and not exceeding seven persons
appointed by the governor. In Vir-
giniA, the governor. the attorney-gen-
eral, three experienced educators
elected by the senate from the facul-
ties Of certain Virginia colleges
county superintendent, and city super,
tntendent, constitute the board The
two superintendent are elected by /
the other members Of the board In :
Maryland, the board consists OF the I
governor, the state superintendent, and |
six persons appointed by the governor I
with the advice and consent Of the 1
Benate- In this stste, the principals $
OF the normal schools are honorary 6
members of the board S
The persons appointed by the gov i
eFnor must be qualified by high char {
acter. integrity and capacity for the Z
position. In Indiana, the members or d
q state hnard H. khr, l..