The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-09-28

caiiy Tor q lie term. The act passed
last April, continued the education
department under the legislative d.
rection Of the regents and the exc
cutive direction of the commissioner
Of education, who Is made the chief
executive officer Of the state system,
Of education. and of the regents. The
state department is charged with the
general management and supervision
Of all public schools and all Of the
educational work Of the state. includ-
ing the professors OF the university
of the state of New York.
Again In the words Of DR.. Draper
addressing the regents: The uniftca-
ton act Of 1904 as we have executed
1t, and now the new education law,
extend indefinitely both the legisla-
tive and executive powers OF our edu-
cational government. The conflicts
and confusion are disappearing be-
cause functions have been separated
scientifically and powers are being
exercised along rational, distinct and
efscctfvc lines. Bodies legislate (;
individuals execute. We shall invite
failure If We confuse legislative and
executive functions. The people OF
a democracy prefer that policies
shall be settled by more than one
person; executive functions can not
be- exercised effectually by a board
- The duty Of an executive is the
execution Of the law. The commits.
sioner Of education will have the in.
itiative about appointments. You will
have the approval Of all appoint
ments. Administrative freedom is
just as vital as legislative freedom
or judicial freedom, or teaching free.
dom, or any other kind of freedom
Within his sphere the commissions,
of education is to Se just as free az
you are in yours. or as the governor
of the state is in his
Grand as have been the accom-.
plishments of the New York state
system, It's confessed shortcomine
has been in co-ordinating the col.
leges, and bringing them into Vita
connection with the state. The long.
ing frequently expressed in many
quarters in New York for teaching
and investigating state university as
we'll as an examining one, vindicates
the vision Of the founders of 1884
and the contemporary fathers of the
western and southern state universe.
ties. whose plans fortunately were
carried out in having teaching and
investigating universities as centers
of public school system.
Step Taken In Iowa.
We may be pardoned then for turn.
ing to typical western state uni.
versity, and the fifth state recently
legislating in favor of educational
unity-Iowa. The general assembly
in 1909 abolished the three separate
governing boards of the state uni
versity, the college of agriculture and
mechanic arts, and the normal school
and established in their stead one
state board of education consisting oil
nine members Of whom not more thar
five should be of the same political
party. The board is appointed by the
governor and confirmed by the sen
ate. 1t Is divided into three classes
and the term of ONCE is six years.
The powers of the board are plen
airy as to the election and dismissal
Of presidents. instructors of all kind
and as to the control of property. 1
is mandatory for the board of min,
to appoint finance committee Of
three from outside Its membership
holding Office for three years. TIL,
board itself is upon an honor basis
except for actual expenses and a PEI
diem of $500. The members of tn,
finance committee receive an annua
salary of $500 each. 1t is the dut!
Of the finance committee to visit eacl
institution at least monthly. TIL,
board and the finance committe,
have Offices at the state house, though
they are also to maintain bushes!
Office at each of the institutions.
The law as finally passed preserved
the idea OF a large board with full
power. Some Of the early bills wer,
for paid board of three. The in
fluence of those bills appears in tn,
appointment of the paid finance com
mittee of three. The final law Ii
brief. and on purpose indefinite will
the exception that the established
academic customs and traditions, a,
we'll as the business sense and wis
dom of the men on the board and fin
ance committee would maintain thu
safe guards of lehr and lern-freiheit
and the distinction between govern
! ment and administration.
Iowa has had almost from the be
! ginning the vision of corrolating tn,
educational interests of the state will
the university. III 1867 the consti
tuition Of the state then adopted, pro
vided for state board of education
embracing all the educational inter
ests of the state, including common