Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-19
MISS NELSON'S STATEMENT

That was an excellent statement Miss Minnie ]. Mel
son made regarding the board Of administration bill,
which, has become known as the educational bill. This
measure, Senate Bill 1874. is being referred at the special
election June rs, and the voters of the state should read
Miss NELSON'S statement before they cast their ballots
Miss Nelson, of course, is opposed to the bill. She
could not do otherwise, for no good educator could favor
it. In her statement, she sets forth her reasons for OBJ
Jecting to It,. And one of her reasons is that the measure
makes an elective state officer subject to the direction
of an appointive board in the exercise of his or her con-
stitutional duties Miss Nelson was elected by the peo-
pie Of the state to supervise the schools of the state,
but the men in control of the Nonpartisan league seek to
strip her Of this right and place her upon a board COM
posed of three men appointed by the governor and one
other ex-ohacio Of Agriculture
John N. Hagan. She was elected to direct the states
educational work, but these league bosses would place
her upon a board that must also direct and manage the
state prison and the state asylum, work for which Miss
Nelson was not trained and never intended.
But Miss Nelson gives other reasons. She opposes
it because lit deprives the people Of the direct control
of their schools. The state superintendent, who is elect
ed by the people, is responsive to their demands but an
appointive board will be responsive only to the person
by whom 1t is appointed. There can be no true democ-
racy without schools which are responsive to public opin-
ion, and they can only be responsive to public opinion
through an elective superintendent"
There are many arguments against the educa tional
BILL but in that one paragraph Miss Nelson sums them
up nicely. The schools of the state are the peoples.
They are the foundation stones Of democracy and free
dom, not the playthings of political bosses, such as they
would become under Senate Bill 1874, They should be
kept free Of the faint if they are to serve the people.
Miss Nelson says that the bill was passed at the
dictation of politicians. and because Sufficient attention
was not given to details Of the measure by persons Of
recognized /, qualification the measure was not drawn
in a manner to make 1t workable and desirable.
The state superintendent statement also calls at
tention to a fact that has become pretty well known. She
says it is a spite measure, and any one familiar with
North Dakota political affairs of the last few years can
easily realize this. In 1917, Governor Lynn j. Frazier
recommended increased powers for the superintendent
of public instruction. Neil c. Macdonald, whom Miss
powers. but when the league leaders failed to elect Mac
donald last fall. they Immediately began . campaign to
strip the superintendent's once Of those powers it pos
sessed. Townley wanted control Of the schools Of the
state, and he could not have it with Miss Nelson in Of
flee. What better way to obtain such control than to rob
her of her duties and place her upon a board appointed
14 was the result.
If the schools are to remain in control of the peo-
pie of the state, free from political intrigue and bosses,
this bill should be vetoed on June Is.