River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-03-17
SkogIno Educational
Administration Bill

The following is an interview which
Senator George B. Skogmo has given
the state press regarding the educa-
tional administration measure which
he introduced into the Senate Tuesday
morning:
Senator Skogmo said: 81 intro
duced this morning the bill providing
for the reorganization of the machin-
cry of educational administration in
the state. The bill was prepared aft
er consultation with educators from
all sections of the state. 1t will save
money, but more than that. it will
provide for harmonious and efficient
administration of the state schools.
1t is particularly gratifying to me to
find that form of organization which
is recommended by the educational
experts of the country will save the
state money"
Senator Skogmo's bill deals con-
structively with the educational ad-
ministration and is apparently design
ed to end all controversy between the
educational agencies of the state. The
State Superintendent is given an hon
ored position in the reorganization
plan. Through his membership on
the boards the State Superintendent
touches the educational system at ev-
cry point in every grade of instruct
ion. Large opportunity for service
on the board is given him.
Senator Skogmo continued: "The
bill abolishes the present State Board
of Education and the State Board OF
Vocational Education and creates in
their stead new State Board of Ed
ucation made up on an entirely differ
ent basis from that of the present
State Board of Education. On the
new Board there will be no represen-
tatives of the educational institutions
as at present The Governor, who is
on the present State Board Of Edu-
cation, will not be on the new State
Board of Education. 1t will be a board
made up of representatives Of all the
leading elements of the community.
> It will be board of seven members,
of which one shall be representa-
tive farmer, one shall be represen-
tative of merchants, manufacturers,
or other business men, and one shall
me a representative employee not
having employing or discharging pow
er. At least one member OF the
Board shall be woman. Two addi-
tional members are to be appointed
without reference to their occupation.
This makes lay board, and provides
for the cooperation of industry, la
Dor and farmers, with trained educa-
tors on the new board. Under the new
plan the State Superintendent OF
Schools will still have his present
great opportunities for leadership
through his membership on the State
Board of Education itself, the State
Board of Normal Regents. the State
Board of University Regents, the
Stout Institute Board, the Mining
School Board, and the Free Library
Commission. He will be the chair
man ex-officio of the State Board OF
Examiners for Teachers licenses, and
will be charged with the supervision
and execution of the duties of said
board. Together with the Attorney
General and the Secretary of the Free
Library Commission, the State Sup
erintendent of Schools will have
charge of the statutory duties regard
ing the contracting, purchasing, and
rebinding of school library books. The
State Superintendent of Schools shall
apportion and distribute the common
school fund income in accordance with
the constitutional and statute provls-
ions.
"The new State Board of Education
will have all the present duties OF the
State Board of Vocational Education
and will administer the Educational
Bonus Law. The provisions OF the
present State Board of Education
law are modified considerably The
new State Board of Education will ex-
ercise the duties with reference to
biennial estimates and will have au-
thority to investigate and inspect and
supervise the public schools of the
state. Under the new plan, there is a
coordination of educational admins
tration and the opportunities for the
harmonious working out of program
for education for all our children
which will raise the level of Wiscon-
sin schools"
H.