Evening journal., 1921-02-23
BY p. p. CLAYTON.
United States Commissioner Of Education.

the ever-developing and enlargins
needs and the demands OF the ex-
panding. rich and throbbing life OF
/ society state and Nation. The sooner
this Is done the better it will be for
education and for all that Is depend
ent upon it
As a basis for the reconstruction
OF the State departments OF educa-
tion. I submit the following sugges-
tionsi
1 Educational administration has
In principle, and should have I'm prac-
tice, no direct relation to partisan
politics as we know partisan pohtics
in this country, The pubic echool
system OF any state is liz greatest CO
operative enterprise, supported oy al
the people IN proportion TO their
ability, regardless OF the amount OF
their wealth, and regardless OF any
political or religious affiliations, IN
order that all the children OF all the
people may, regardless OF ther pow
erty and all other conditions, have
as nearly as possible equal and iull
opportunity for the education that
/ win best develop their Individuality
and prepare them for life, for max
ing A living. and for the duties and
RESPONSIBILITIES OF democratic citlsen-
shin. From the standpoint OF states
manship and the public welfare, All
the people are interested alike IN
the schools our political parties 90
not differ in regard 60 educational
nrinciples or practices any more
than they do In regard 70 tile Ten
Commandments or the moral code
and TO attempt 20 make education
matter OF partisan politics Ia good
neither for education nor for politics.
Education is the largest and most
important part OF what has well
been called "purposive government
= through which all the people are
served and united, rather than d.
vided. Wise and effective admins
tration Of the system OF education
? involving the expenditure OF many
/ millions OF dollars annually (the
average FOR the states r. not less than
twenty-five million dollars)i tho d.
b roction and professional assistance
, OF many thousands OF school officers
b and teachers Gan average OF from
/ aftccn 20 twenty thousand TO the
Statel: and tho promotion Of funda-
I mental policies affecting directly 'he
/ lives and destinies Of hundreds OF
. thousands OF children ana youth tan
average OF approximately ave nun
) dred thousand to the Statel. ana oi-
81 rectiy or indirectly determining the
: welfare OF all the people and the des-
b tinies OF State and Nation, requires
2 unusual ability and devotion
p The nature Of its work and the
! relations OF the state department OF
{ education are such as 20 make nee
I essa,ry much wise counsel. as we'll as
n definite administrative action. Well
e considered policies are frequently
b. more important than quick notion
e Constant and conservative develop
y ment is much better than success
e sion OF special drives" for particular
- purposes, however effective they maS
4 be temporarily, and more fruitful in
educational results than a discon'
s nected succession OF personal admin
. istrations however brilliant
d For the effective application Of
J. these principles, State department.
e OF education should be organized
n somewhat as follows;
10 1. A State board OF education
= non-partisan, non-professional, mad
i up OF men and women OF Affairs, Sc
Is iected from the State at large be
Al cause OF their fitness for this position
n rather than for their fitness for SOM
l. other. They should be men an'
* women Of recognized ability, sterling
D character. breadth OF mind, and no
y bility OF purpose. catholic in though
s. and feeling, devoted TO the publi
N welfare, convinced Of the importance
e, OF education and willing and able q
IS give time and energy TO the duties o
l. their office. The members OF tn
lf board should represent fairly all sec
N tions OF the State, rural and urban
< and the main professions. occupa
le tions and interests OF the people
They should be men and women II
he close touch with the great interest
Iy Of society and State, capable OF rep
)r resenting the people worthily Il
es planning for the results which the
m should expect from their schools an
10 other agencies OF education, and d
pr formulating fundamental policies 10
I'd the support, control and develop
te ment OF the State system OF educa
Or tion and all its more important part
Or The State Board Of Educatio
Of should consist Of seven OF nine mem
es bers, serving for seven or nine year
ID the term Of one member expirin
a. each year, so as to give TO the boar
is continuity and constant newness. n
person having served more than ha'
n the full term should be eligible TO re
is appointment or recollection. No pei
ly son should hold membership in tn
OF board except through definite ar
he pointment or election. There shoul
d. be no ex-ofiicio members.
" The board should elect its ow
chairman from year TO year. TIL
n commissioner OF education should
as its secretary. II necessary for cor
a venience Of appointment or election
p their term OF office should be mad
e- such as TO make the term OF w
ip members expire every second yea
on Members Of the board should
n elected by the people from the Stai
e. at large or they should be appointe
II by the Governor and confirmed /
e. the Senate, as may seem best in an
d. State: but. however chosen, no PEI
is son belonging to any political part
d. should be eligible for appointment {
n election when more than half of IN
d. members OF the board are Of ths
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