Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-02-22
SCHOOL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,


Huntington Hawkeye.1
A bill has been passed by the Iowa
house of representatives and is now
pending before the senate which, If
successful, will throw the selection of
county superintendent Of schools into
politics again.
Under the existing law, which went
into effect September, 1915. for period
OF three years, county superintendent
We're chosen by a convention, compos-
ed Of the presidents Of the different
boards of the county. Any candidate
must have state teachers certificate
and five years experience as a teacher
and well defined knowledge Of the
proper conduct of rural schools, before
his application can have consideration.
That existing law is based on COM
mon sense 1t is reasonable to pre-
sumo that school boards are better able
to make wise selections Of county su-
perintendents than the average voter,
who gives no thought to the matter
whatsoever. School boards Of cities
like Burlington select the city superin-
tendent and no voter objects to that
way or hints of leaving the matter to
the general election booth. Why
should not the selection of county SUI
perintendent be left to the same man.
ner of procedure?
1t is not necessary here to harp up
on the fact that if there is any body of
men and women who should be un-
trammeled by politics, it's anxiety and
trickery, it is they whose duty it is to
rule over the destinies of our schools.
They have enough to do in the exer-
else of their public duty without being
called upon to play petty politics and
trim their sails to encompass a re-
election. What the people of Iowa de-
mand in the conduct of their schools is
efficient effort toward the adequate in
struction Of the growing generation,
rather than their school officers should
be adrolt' politicians.
Here in Des Moines county we have
had some few examples of the school
superintendent who We're products of
politics, the experiences are still re-
membered as decided failures. At the
present time the county superintendent
is Miss Theresa Thiedemann who. be-
fore she entered upon her important
duties. was for nineteen years a school
teacher in DeS MoineS county. The
Hawk-Eye is a republican paper. Miss
Tiedemann is a democrat in politics.
But the Hawk-Eye would be ashamed
Of itself if it even dared hint that she
should be ouSted, after a good admin
instration of county school affairs. ITO
let the people rule AS a matter Of
fact, the people do rule and represent
ative government has a more sane ex-
erCise thru the election Of county
school superint endents by the votes of
school boards. chosen for their illness,
than it does by the indescriminate
votes, Of the citizen who has no imme-
date concern about such elections.
SO far as can he learned. the only
reason advanced for the reactionary
measure not pending is the false plea
that the privilege Of the citizen is cur
tailed and that Of the school board is
increased by the present law, as If the
voter did not select the school board
that in turn selects the superintendent,
It is simply a case Of petty politics
and the people OF Iowa should make It
their business to impress upon the gov
ernor and members Of the legislature
that they are we'll satisfied with pres
ent conditions or, at least, demand that
the existing law shall have fair trial
before il is repealed at the benest OF
selfish politicians, who ought to know
that Iowa has already too much poll
siCs for ifc op, good