The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-01-02
WANTS NO POLITICS
IN SCHOOL SYSTEM
Inspector Hand Decrys Present
Situation.
PLEA FOR STATE BOARD.
This, He Says, Could be Done, State
Superintendent Elected by Ii,
Not Through Primary.

|
| lotte Observer.
Decrying the present system as fol-
| ly and in a ringing plea for the cleo
tion of a state board of education
which would choose the state super
Iintendont of education and take the
Office out of politics, w. III. Hand,
state high school inspector, levels
his guns on the present system as the
playing of the cheap politician and
the pawn of the demagogue.
Says Mr.. Hand:
considering the amount or CAPT
tai invested, the magnitude of the
under taking, and the import of the
results, education is by far the big
gest business OF the modern state.
Year by year the capital is increasing,
and the business is growing. Year
by year the need OF trained leader
ship is emphasized. At present there
is admittedly too little efficiency In
our school work, financially or pro-
fessinally speaking. School finances
are directed largely by men OF no
demonstrative financial acumen or
training, and the organization and
administration of schools are often
directed by men Of no professional
equipment.
GOOD SYSTEM NEEDED.
"No state can hope to have good
schools until 1t has good school sys-
tenn. No good system can be had un-
less 1t is uninterruptedly presided
over by a competent head, by man
with a national outlook and of APP
proved executive force. He must be
a seer. a builder and a leader. In an
age when big business is on the con-
stant watch for just such men ii is
nothing less than childish to hope to
secure and to retain the services of
men of demonstrated ability to direct
the education of n state for the beg
carly salary now paid by this state to
it's superintendent of education. Hun
dreds of people honestly believe his
salary ample and liberal. Are think
ing men willing to permit such mar
row notions to prevail? 1t is but COM
monplace to say that there are many
citizens ready to take the superin-
tendency at the present salary. There
are doubtless not a few willing to
take it at half that salary, but does
the state desire such men at any
salary? Say what we please, the
state is i'm the open market for com
petent men to fill its Offices; the state
must compete with other positions of
responsibility and remuneration.
PRIMARY UNDEPENDABLE.
What state determined to have
good permanent school system can
afford to depend upon political pri-
mary to get and to keep a competent
man at the head of this system. What
American state has done so for any
length Of time? As a matter of
plain fact, at the biennial state cleo
tions of this state what per cent of
the total voters manifest any intelli-
gent concern as to who is to be elect
ed superintendent of education? 1t
is safe to say that fewer than one
half care BY the time the average
voter has given attention to his fa-
vorite candidate for governor and for
lieutenant governor, he is ready to
vote for anybody or for nobody for
superintendent Of education. Is not
our system Of public education large
Iy a matter of political chance? With
a weak or bad administration of pub
lie education who can place the re-
sponsibility? Is any system sound
when weakness or corruption can not
be located and somebody held re-
sponSible? Can our people have no
more concern for the management of
more than $2,5OO,O0O of their taxes
and the direction of the education of
more than 100000 children of the
state?
TAKEN FROM POLITICS.
IAN effective and responsible
school administration must be taken
out of politics. There .is-no more rea-
son for putting the state superinten-
dent Of education into a political
campaign than there would be for
putting the presidency of the Uni
versity or of Clemson, or Of Win
thrOp, or of the Citadel, into a poll
tical primary. What would become
Of either of these colleges thus i'm
mersed in politics? The state super
intendent of education should be
elected by a state board of education
elected by the people. The state is
already divided into congressional
districts This state board might
consist of one member from each con-
gressinal district. The term of Office
should be at least six years and the
board should be a directly response
BILE to the people and would feel its
responsibility i'm a way impossible to
the mere voter. State lines should
be no limit to the territory from
which superintendent might be
chosen. If the proper man could be
found inside the state, so much the
better. But, should he happen to
live in another state, get him.
"The state is after an expert, and
on itself nj the search. If Charles
on itself in TN eseaTch. If Charles
ton, Columbia, Spartanburg or Green
Vile we're looking for a city supeTin-
tendent, local board alive to it's job
would look beyond either municipal
or state lines for the right man.
"The cheap politician and the two
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