The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1919-05-22

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CONCERNING SENATE BILL 1874
Senate Bill 1874, which provides for
q State Board of Education is at
tracing an unusual amount Of inter
est among the people Of the state in
terested in educational matters.
A few years ago, a survey of the
educational institutions Of the state,
and educational conditions as whole,
WAS made by competent authorities,
and among other recommendations,
Whey suggested the advisability of a
State Board of Education.
A number of states in the union
have State Boards of Education and
the plan is decidedly feasible and
proper.
However, no state in the United
as that proposed by this Bill 1874.
1t is interesting and significant to
know that two of the members of
the survey committee who recon-
mended that North Dakota have a
State Board of Education haxe eX-
pressed their approval of such a
Board as would result from the OPP
GRAFTON of Bill 1874.
One prime objection to it, is the
uncanny linking together Of the state
penitentiary, the university, the in
sane asylum, the normal schools, all
the public institutions Of the state
whether correlated or not
A further point of objection is
found in the fact that the Board,
five in number has three appointive
members. Expert opinion on this
point makes it clear that an elective
Board would be wiser, or that the APP
pointment should at least be ratified
by the Senate.
But more serious point is that
these appointive members are to re-
ceive salary of three thousand dol
lars a year. The experience of all
states is the same-there is never a
need for a large salary to get strong,
public minded citizens to take place
on Board Of Education, and the
salary proposition together with the
appointive feature makes the Board
al too open to political movement.
And yet an even more Objectionable
feature is found in this that the
three appointive members are made
Coordinate in rank, in salary, in ini-
tiatiyeiin vote, in fact in every prac-
ticalH4y with the one elective mem
Der, State Superintendent of Edu-
ctaiosl This may very readily mean
that Nhe State Superintendent of Edu-
cation elected by the votes of tens Of
thou31 nds of voters Of the State, is
overlowered by the votes of the three
appointed members Of the Board. The
entiN Board is made administrative
and 34ecutive--an anomalous situa-
ton. The State Superintendent is
not even ex-officio chairman Of the
Board. He is merely one fifth of
the Board Of Five.
Other criticisms are found in the
confu4lSn and duplication of author
ity. Is Raw already enacted and not
rescifhed, provides that the State
Superintendent shall certify teachers,
shallaprovide course of study, shall
supervise the schools; but Bill 134
provides that the new State Board
shall perform these same services.
Such educational experts as U. S.
Commissioner of Education p. P.
Claxton, DR.. George D. Strayer, presi-
dent of the National Education Asso-
citation, and Dr. Lotus D. Coffman, of
the Department of Education, Univer-
sity of Minnesota, are of one voice in
their conclusion that the operation Of
the law would be harmful to the best
educa tional interests of the State.
The several District Education As
sociations, the High School Confer
ence, the County Superintendent in
session, the State Education Associa-
ton thru its Executive Committee
have all recorded resolutions calling
for the repeal of the Bill. And it is
understood that an effort will be made
to secure subsequent legislation that
will follow the recommendations OF
the Survey Committee in providing a
Board Of Education that will avoid
the pitfalls that are all too evident
in the present bill.
It is stated on clear authority that
the Educational Bill 1874 was not 9
League Measure, and that there are
many men and women Of various
political alliances that recognize its
dangers. Without doubt it should be
rescinded at the forthcoming referen.
dunn.
SEAPLANE CROSSING ATLANTIC
The entire world has been watch.
ing the results of the fight of the
u. s. naval seaplane across the At.