El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-11-29
REVOLUTIONARY CHANGES
ADVOCATED by ROBERTS

ADVOCATED BY ROBERTS
Reforms, revolutionary in character
and many In number, we're urged in
the school system of New Mexico by
DR.. Frank H. H. Roberts, president Of
the New Mexico Educational ~associa-
ton, in his annual address before the
31st annual convention of the New
Mexico Educational association at the
Scottish Rite Cathedral auditorium.
DIR. Roberts dwelt at length on a
dozen reforms he thought would i'm
prove the educational system. His
address in full follows:
Former presidents have written
frequently and effectively of the his
tory and status of education in New
Mexico. 1t is my purpose to deal en-
tirely with the future or rather to
make some very radical suggestions
that l hope will lead to extensive dis
cussion and to the betterment of the
schools.
1.-THE suggestions here made, the
writer well knows, will not receive
general commentator, but here and
there they may start a discussion
that may reach something worth
while in the matttr of organization.
MY first reform: l would first
change the constitution so that all
Legislative power concerning ques-
lions of education would be divided
between the state board of education
and the legislature. The legislature
should be limited to- financial prob
lens only, reserving for the state
board of education all questions Of
general rules and regulations, with
the right reserved to the Legislature
to annual any legislation on the part
of the board Of education. All dis
qualifications because of sex should
be removed from the constitution.
my second suggestion is that the
school teachers should have their
own representatives, nominated and
elected by themselves in each house
of the legislature. These representa-
tives should be practical school men,
actually in the work and should have
all the rights and privileges Of other
members.
Some n will say at once this is
revolutionary and unheard of sugges-
ton. Yet the educational interests of
Great Britain are particularly repre-
sented in parliament. Cambridge and
other universities have their repre-
sentatives, chosen by their graduates
and student bodies. There is no in
terest in the state more important
than that of education of which there
is spent vastly more money than for
any other interest. and yet 1t Is with
out representation. Our social atti-
tude toward a school man holding Of
flee makes it impossible for out
standing educators to be candidates
for membership in either the house
or the senate without FORGETTING their
positions. The railroads, the farm
ers, the lawyers, the doctors, the
laboring men, all invariably have
their representatives on the floors Of
both houses, and where necessary,
are able to maintain excellent lob
bies, while the school reople are not
represented in either house and very
inadequately in the Third House.
Legislatures Well Disposed
"My experience with Legislative
of four states leads me to
believe that the great majority Of
them are more than anxious to do the
right thing in matters pertaining to
education, but lack of experience, OF
raining, and Of information makes It
difficult for them to decide exactly
what should be done and as a result
educational bills are pigeon-holed and