Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-17

ity Of some six thousand votes the people Of the state had
elected Miss Nelson state superintendent Of public in
struction in place of N. G. Macdonald. Miss Nelson was
personally and professionally we'll fitted for the position
to which she had been chosen. but tho prestige Of the
Townley management was at stake, as we'll as its control
over the school system. Something must be done. The
first attempt was made through the courts. There 1t was
sought by means OF q trumped-up case to deny Miss Neil
son the position to which she had been elected. and to
retain the defeated candidate in office. The complaint
was too f11msy to have weight in any court, and the case
was dismissed.
: Beaten at the polls, and without standing ia court.
the Socialist bosses undertook, not exactly to lesislatA the
state superintendent out Of office, but to legislate all eff
fective control over educational matters out Of her hands.
It was for that purpose ana in that form that the educa-
tional bill was first presented.
In the meantime a disagreement had arisen between
MI. Townley and certain members of the board Of con-
troll, which had charge Of the penitentiary. reform school.
and institutions for various detectives. There appeared
tho possibility of killing two birds with one stone. Provi-
sion vestink control of these penal and charitable institu-
tons in the new board to be created was tackled onto the
educational bill. If the scheme worked the state SUPER
intendent would, in effect, have been leg1slated out Of
existence, and other officials, who had become politically
unsatisfactory, would be removed by the abolition Of the
board of control. AZ
AA SA1dI AoIH Le VII. q pdoSeO,d uO n HAT IOIm IL
is now before the people for their decision. Two parttc-
ularly Objectionable features exist in this bill.
One of these is the composition of the board of ad-
ministrstion. This board is to be composed of five mem
bers, three appointed by the governor, and the other two,
the state superintendent and the commissioner of agri-
culture and labor. being ex-officio members. The state
superintendent, whose time has been supposed to be de-
voted entirely to educational work, that is. the admins
tration Of the public schools, is now to divide her time
and devote much Of it to the penitentiary. the insane
asylum. the institute for the blind, the deaf. and so forth.
The commissioner of agriculture and labor has duties of
his own which require all his attention, and he has no
more proper place on that board than has the commits
sioper of insurance or the railroad commissioners. The
three appointive members are to receive salaries of 50, 900
a year each, and to devote their entire time to the work
of the board. If we are to have a board of this kind we
need the best men in the state on it. The position is not
a professional one nor is it expected that the board mem
bers will do professional work. Their duties will be su-
pervisory. and largely of a business nature. They must
employ professional experts for the professional work. It
has been found possible in other states, and it is possible
in North Dakota, to obtain the services of men of the very
highest standing for the general supervision of educa-
tional work without compensation other than the pay
ment of their actual e~xpenses-mileage and per diem
while engaged in such service. The honorable nature Of
the service makes men of the right type willing to devote
the necessary time to it without other remuneration. But
where are there to be found men of the requisite qualifi-
cations willing to abandon their own business and devote
their entire time to this work for $4,000 a year? The DO
sitions will be attractive to mediocre men and aspiring
politicians, and it is by such men that they, are certain.t to
be filled.
The other principal objection is that the bill proposes
the combination in one department of classes of work
which are not related. An excuse is often offered. in the
assertion that according to- the enlightened views of the
age, the management of penlrentiaries and similar cor
FESTIVE institutions is educational work. In a wav if is.
But it is a stigma upon the youth of our state, and in in
suit to the parents, to say that the education of the nor
NAL children Of the self-respecting and law-abidinE citi-
zens Of the state is educational work at all resembling the
control, repression and reformation of thieves. foreers
and murderers. -
This bill has been condemned by many of the best
known and most capable Of the educators of the state.
No educator of recognized standing speaks publicly in
its defense. 1t is no part of the league program. for
league members never heard of it until the legislative ses-
sion. For the general interest of the state, and especial
ly for the sake of the education of the state, it should he
defeated. y