Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-17
SHORT TERM is
CONDUCIVE TO
INEFFICIENCY
Educators Say School Head
Should Be Out Of
Politics.

Declaring 1t is time to cease selecting
State superintendents of Public Instruc-
ton 10y the rules Of political expediency'
and that efficiency can not maintained
when no superintendent is assured more
than a two-year term in office, Herbert
Briggs, a member of the executive cons
mittee of the Indiana Educators Amend
ment Association, today issued a state
ment asking support for the proposed
constitutional amendment which would
make the office of State Superinten lent
appointive instead of elective
Mr.. Briggs has charge Of vocational
education in Terre Haute. His state
meut follows.
Sept next the people of Indiana will
have chance to vote on thirteen amend
ments to the State Constitution. No. 3
one this list is the ore about which we
are talking. No. 8 provides that the
State superintendent Of public instruc-
ton be appointed instead Of elected.
For seventy years Indiana has elected
Its State superintendent of public in
strueti0n. We will agree that the men
chosen were the best that could have been
found unden the system We also agree
that the men chosen have done well un-
der the circumstances
FOR seventy years Indiana has chosen
its State superintendent by the rules OF
political expediency.
To-day our best educators demand a
change. Citizens generally demand bet
ter results from such vast expenditure
or public money.
NO State superintendent can be as
sured OF more than a two-yean term. Ihe
best system cannot be developed under
such g short tenure Of office.
2fufeG changed their
method Of choosing their State super
intendent from election on a state ticket
by popular majority, 10 appointment
These fourteen states have gone stead
lily upward in their educational rating.
"Mone and more everybody and every
thing today depends upon education. In
q social organization that Is ever ex-
handing and charging school superin-
tendeuts have been assigned automat-
lcaIy to new duties and enlarged re
sponsit llities.
About a quarter OF century ago
Indiana began to place its state institu
tious under the direction OF ldn- partisan
boards So that the Institutions 0t char
ity. benevoleuce-the reformat0ries. tht
correctional and penal institutions al
are on a good. sound business basis anc
are in no way subject to nartisan inter
ference incident to a limited tenure OF
! a change in State administrations.
! 1.-THE higher institutions Of learning il
/ the State have never been subject u
partisan interference with their man
! agement.
| The common schools, then. constitute
| the only State institution that is not OF
| a non partisan or non political basis. I
may be news 10 the people Of Indiana q
! know that within the State there is
school population OF approximately $40.
, GOO on whom we are spending $4,000 600
| Annually, and yet the general directini
/ head Of this vast enterprise is never sur
/ Of more than two year term. I he frs
purpose OF the Indiana Educators
! Amendment Association, then, is to Sc
cure tn eadoption OF amendment No. 2.
! THE second purpose is TO organize
! back ground OF popular support so tina
/ the State board Of education wiz be giveI
/ the privilege Of making the appointment
/ Then the State board of education vii
/ be free TO select the best man wherever
/ be NAV be found. and retain him through
( term Of years, during which time SOUND
/ and progressive educational policies may
I b drought forth and applied 10 the bet
terment OF the state school system.
/ Another reason for adopting amend
ment No. 9 is the fact that Indiana i;
well within the process Of taking n State
Wide survey and when this inventory Of
( ord educational resources has been com
pleted IL will be necessary for the Stat,
i 10 have this important change in III
! school machinery In order that the re
/ suits Of this survey may be realized.