Arizona republican., 1921-01-21
OFFICIAL TELLS WHY SCHOOL POST SHOULD
 BE MADE APPO|NT|VE

Miss Elsie Toles, elected state su- perintendent of public instruction, who recently caused a sensation when she recommended that the office be made appointive, yesterday presented her reasons in a talk before the high school Parent Teacher association.
 Miss Toles is behind the bill which is now pending in the house and which was introduced by Miss c. Louise Boehringer of Yuma county. former school superintendent of the county she represents.
 Tt is amusing to hear the first com ment generally made by those who are not acquainted with it's provision when they learn that House Bill No. Is designed to make the office of state superintendent appointive," said Miss Toles.
 "They take it to mean an appoint ment made directly by a governor and in consequence increased rather than lessened danger of political influ- ence in schools.
 "The bill is designed to prevent that very thing The appointment of the superintendent would be made by the board of education which, the bill pro- vides, win no longer be composed of ex-officio members and political ap- pointees but will be selected much as the present board of regents of the uni- versity. It will take at least three terms for any governor to obtain con- trol of this board by his appointments even should he be so inclined. which is unlikely.
 'The board will be able to select its superintendent from any part of the country, and on a basis of ability rath- CT than personal or political popu Ia rt,a4a ant xxvfn ha al To to carry out consistent and construc- tive policy, secure in the realization that if he gets results he need not spend half his time mending his fences for the next election.
 we need to change our entire con- ception of that office Why should it not be one of as much dignity and responsibility, demanding as high orr der of ability as that of the president of our state university? You would probably be shocked at the idea of the presidents of the university or of the | normal being under the necessity of | appealing to popular favor every two 1 years for a continuance of their work, because you realize that such a thing would absolutely prevent the construc- l tive and consistent development of the institutions of which they are head"
 Miss Toies then touched upon other educational bills pending:
 House Bill No. 2 is designed to make the present state board more useful. with reference particularly to institutes, certification of teachers, and reduction of waste in our present text ! book law. Institutes at present are conducted separately at much expense to the individual counties, and with in adequate returns. By placing the whole matter under the direction of the state | board, speakers could be scheduled for the whole state and sent to the teach CTS which would mean greatly reduced expense, save much time for the schools and permit the people of the com munity to attend the meetings.
 'tThe present certification laws stand in the way of higher standards of qual- 1 ifications for teachers" she said.
 The text book law is excellent, in her opinion, but certain features should be 1 changed to eliminate waste