Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-11-26
State School Legislation
Needs Many and Radical
amendments at Early Date

city Supt J. s. lI0fer of Tucumeari.
/ presented to the educational council
the following paper and suggestions
as to the legislation needed by New
Mexlcos educational system. He said:
From New Mcxico's birth as a ter
ritory friends Of education have tried
to provide each person within its
boundary with free and liberal edu-
cation Each territorial legislature
added TO former laws, because the
changes in our conditions called for
changes in administration of educa-
tlonal affairs. In making these laws,
they we're not always made purely
school laws, but often referred to
quite different subjects Laws in
tended to regulate the cattle industry.
the sheep industry. the destruction
Of property etc, etc. were accompa-
MED with penalty clauses that affect
ed the school funds, and were insert
ed in such a way that today we have
printed, as school lays. whole pages
Of laws which are in fact almost cv-
erything but school law. and yet refer
TO matters essential to the admins
tration of school affairs.
The result is very unsatisfactory;
one must search volumes OF matter
that is archaic or even useless for IL
formation that should stand out clear
ly ana separately from irrelevant sub
jects. And the situation was not
helped when we became state. for
new laws were added by our constitu-
ton, which also provides in Article
'NxlII, Section 4, that. "All laws Of
the territory of New Mexico In force
at the time of its admission into the
union as state. not inconsistent with
this constitution. shall be and remnin
in force as the laws of the state until
they expire by their own limitation,
or are altered or repealed"
No other subject affects all people
Of the state more than does the sub
ject Of school laws. for laws on herd
ing, or on mining, or on irrigation,
etc. affect only certain comparatively
small areas in the state. while school
laws affect each home within the
state.
From each person who has to do
with school administration, and there
are about $500 Of such, we hear the
call for legislation that viii aid us in
carrying on our work. Especially does
the state department Of education re-
allie this need.
At the first meeting Of the state
board Of education, held in 1879. that
holy fhrough lie urevflipg acf;oor
appointed committee to revise ana !
modify the conglomerated mass Of |
existing school laws for the purpose
of getting the first state legislature /
to enact something better The COM !
mittee performed It's task as well as
II could under existing conditions. I
The legislature had the proposed code
printed but adjourned before giving
Il serious consideration Since that
time the department. working with
he legislative COMMITTEES Of the New
Mexico Educational association has
had prepared another revision ana
compilation Of our laws. upon which
! hopes TO get more serious thought
when the next legislature meets.
Repeal and characterization Needed.
II is generally acknowledged thai
SIC need to repeal many Of our pres
mt laws and enact d few new ones.
All laws that are no longer valuable
o MS should be repealed to save need
ess search when one wishes to get r
'ertain- Information and to save ex-
'ense when II Is necessary to print