The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-01-26

entire educational agencies and acti-
vities of the state was nil The fun
ctlons of the state superintendent
relative to the higher institutions was
likewise nil. Those institutions were
! governed by separate boards each of
which had president and confined
their duties almost exclusively to the
particular institution they were auth
orized by law to govern. They were
in no position to view state education
/ in its entirety. The superintendent Of
public instruction was member of a
constitutional board O. education Of
/ which the attorney general and secre-
tary of state were also members
This entire organization was abolish
ed by the constitutional amendment
of 1912.
! There are many who assume this
constitutional amendment stripped
the state superintendent of duties and
responsibilities. Quite the opposite is
the case. 1t greatly enlarged these
SO far as practical results are con-
cerned. Besides functioning as be-
fore the superintendent became a
member of state board having en-
tire charge Of all phases of education
and the election of commissioner.
The actual powers Of this officer over
education within the state is greatly
enlarged and surpass those of any
other state superintendent in the
northwest.
In 1912 by constitutional amend
ment a new and different board of
education was created and the state
superintendent was made a member
of it.. The entire educational system
was placed under it's control 1t be-
came the controlling board of all five !
state institutions, taking over the
duties of the boards which had pre-
viously been in control Of the sep
arate Institutions 1t was charged I
with the duty of eliminating dupli-
cation throughout the system, includ- I
ing high and elementary schools. Its
duty was to coordinate the entire
system in the interest of economy
and efficiency.
The executive officer called a COM
missioner of education was provided
for An anomaly arose in this,
namely that the superintendent as a
member was charged with the duty
Of helping to elect and direct the
commissioner but in carrying out the
decisions of the board as to certifi-
cation and the management of ele-
nentary schools, dealing with county
unification of sys-
;em, etc, she would be under the gen
'ral direction of the board. The COM
missioner was given direct and
arge responsibility over the institu-
ion, fitting together and unifying 8
he entire system, thus harmonizing
he whole.
Idaho has been very fortunate in 6
Ter state superintendents A success !,
ion of splendid women have ably
illed the office Every successive
voman superintendent of public in
truction has recommended that her
ffice be abolished. Not that it's {
JUNCTION or cost should be abolished, :
ut these must remain and would be l
lied by an employee It is not con- 5
eivable that competent employee
ould be engaged for this purpose at E
less cost than $24OO, the present I
ntirely inadequate salary of the T
tate superintendent of public in :
5ruction. =
Does the state desire to go back to :
he old system of separate boards for L
lie various state institutions, the s.
lembers of which would have but
ne object in view-not to look at the II
ate educational system as a whole, q
1T to their particular institution u
lly? Does it desire to return to the s.
lplication in operation, buying of q
lpplies, ETC., in which it is admitted y
lere of necessity was great loss?
The present Idaho system has been
measure of economy and in effici-
icy it stands high a. a.
Harding Plays Game Of Golf. h,