Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1917-02-21
NEW EDUCATION BILL
PROPOSES TO MAKE MEMBERSHIP
OF BOARD APPOINTIVE IN
STEAD OF ELECTIVE.
Especial correspondence to Herald J
By II. b. PIXLEY.

Madison, Wis, Feb. 19.-Probably
the most important piece of legisla-
ton of the 1917 session Of the legisla-
ture was introduced by Speaker Law
renee C. Whittet when he sent in his
bill changing the personel of the state
board of education. 1t is bound to
precipitate fight, and may be the
bill which will enliven an otherwise
comparatively quiet session.
Two years ago, when Gov. Philip
introduced his central board of edu-
cation bill, he was opposed by both
the normal schools and the universe
ty. The bill was passed by the as
sembly, but in the senate Senator
Staudenmeyer, who had been one of
the staunch supporters of the COVER
nor, was induced to introduce sub
stitute amendment which as original
ly drawn made the proposed board
useless and rather harmless expense
for the state. The governor was able
to amend the substitute, when it was
plain that the original bill would not
pass, to give the new board control
Of the finances of the higher educa-
LIOLdI luSIICuIlOLlS, WHICH was Tic puI-
pose of the original BILL
Two years have passed, and the eX-
perience of educational authorities
and state officials has changed many
minds. The central or state board of
education idea is firmly fixed in the
minds Of most of those who have
studied the needs of the schools, from
the rural school up to the Madison in
stitution. The boards best work has
been done in preparing a financial
budget, the idea being that the divis-
ion of funds shall be uniform in all
branches Of educational activity This
budget was approved by the state
board of public affairs and has met the
approval of the point finance commit
tee. The session probably has been
cut month or more by this work.
The present board consists Of five
members, the governor, the secretary
of state and the state superintendent
of public instruction, ex-officio, one
representative Of the normal schools
and one representative of the univer-
sity. Governor Philip never has
been satisfied with the board, although
he has believed it was step in the
right direction and has worked with
it and contends that it has been a sue
cess. He believes, however, that as it
is at present constituted it is suscept-
ible to political influence, if for no
other reason than the fact that three
Of it's members are elected in political
campaigns every two years. The Whit
- al
tive official on the board, and that the
governor. He is placed there because
of the feeling that as the head of the
state government he should be in a
position to watch the finances Of the
state The representatives of the nor
NAL schools and the university, to be
appointed by the regents, remain on
the new board, and the other four
members are to be appointed by the
governor. They are to serve without
salary, fact in itself which insures
good men on the board. That, at least.
has been the experience in many cases.
The appointive members are to serve
terms long enough to remove them
from the dangers and affiliations of
political campaigns, which always
will have a tendency to disrupt boards
of this character until human nature
changes.
That is the object of the Whittet
bill, and the argument which will be
used in it's favor. On the other hand
the university men, especially that
class Of so-called ultras who see in
every move affecting the school an eff
bill They probably will argue that
the bill gives the governor too much
power. It is certain that they will not
rest while there is a chance to defeat
it,
The Whittet bill is worthy of the at
tention Of every member, as it con-
Germs every person who is interested
in education in the whole state
The salary Of members of the legis-
lature will not be raised during this
session. The state senate killed the
Turner amendment to the revisor's
bill which carried this provision. 1t
is probable that a constitutional
amendment will be introduced, and if
it is it should have easy sailing in the
legislature.
When Speaker Whittet and Lieut.
Gov. Dithmar sent kilograms to Presi-
dent Wilson, the president of the SEN
ate and speaker of the house of rep
resentatives assuring them that Wis
consin is loyal to the government and
ready to aid in defending the nation
should the necessity arise, the discus
sion of this question will be over. The
legislature finally passed resolution
instructing these officials to send such
kilograms If the president is the
student of history he is credited with
being he will need no such telegram
to be able to place Wisconsin among
the loyal states.