The Coconino sun., 1922-10-27
BENEFITS OF PROPOSED
 SCHOOL AMENDMENT

| Three constitutional amendments amendments are to be voted upon at | the November election. The one re- Iating to Article XI provides for the election of a non-partisan state board of education appointed by the gover- nor. This non-partisan board would elect a state superintendent of public instruction as a city board of educa tion selects the superintendent of schools, that is, upon his qualifica- tions and experience. It does not take away from the people their full par ticipation in the school district. It is in line with progressive education in at least eight of the leading educa- tional states of the nation. It insures state superintendent professionally trained for the responsible position of managing the school system of the state.
 Certain questions have arisen which need intelligent answers:
 1. Does the constitutional amend ment to Art. XI take the control out of the hands of local people?
 A. No. It affects only the state board of education and the office of state superintendent of public instruc- tion.
 2. How is the state board of educa- tion constituted at present?
 A. It is composed of eight mem bers; five ex officio, and three ap- pointed by the governor The ex of ficio members are the governor, the state superintendent of public instruc- l tin,, tho ,NraSiInntS nf tho Nnt,,o ool schools, and the president of the uni versity. The appointed members are high school principal county su- perintendent, and a city superinten- dent.
 3. What effect does the proposed amendment have on this Board?
 A. It changes it from a board COMPLETELY UNDER THE CON- TROL OF EACH NEW GOVERNOR, and capable of being changed with every change of administration, to ONE WHICH NO GOVERNOR CAN CONTROL during single term of office.
 4. Will this new board be compos- ed of educators?
 A. Mo- This has been found by experience, to be not so satisfactory as a board of laymen, similar to the board of regents of the university, which has been able to command the services of the ablest men in the state.
 }. Who will appoint this new board of education, and how will their terms of office be arranged?
 A. The board will be appointed by the governor and the terms for the first board will be from one to sev- en years for the different members. The new members will be appointed for a term of seven years by the gov enor in office.
 6. What effect does the amend ment have upon the office of state superintendent of public instruction? ?
 A. The state superintendent will no longer be elected, but will be ap- pointed by the state board of educa- tion.
 2. What is the advantage of this plan?
 "A. It will give the state depart ment of education the same advan- tages as that enjoyed by the city , schools, that is, superintendent se- lected for professional instead of pol itical ability, who, because his term in office does not depend upon political , chance, is able to carry politics to completion.
 8. Why is it not possible as a rule ] to secure the highest type of educa- tor for the office of state superinten- E dent?
 A. Because the disadvantages of , the elective plan are too great. . 9. What are these disadvantages :?
 A. To be eligible for the state su- perintendence, one must have lived in the state five years, must go through a campaign for nomination and cleo } tiOn every two years at a considerable , expense and with the chance of being defeated on grounds that have noth- ] ing to do with his ability and success ] in office. If elected, he has no as- surance that any policy initiated can , be completed by him, or will be car ried on by his successor. , 10. Is the argument that the : amendment takes the election of the , state superintendent out of the hands ] of the people a valid argument? 7 A. No. At present the people l have very little to say in the selec- lection of the state superintendent. They have merely a choice between candidates who have been selected by , political parties, while, under the ap- t pointed system, the Board is not linn , ited in its selection by state boundar- ies or party affiliations. r II. How do appointed state super } intendents compare with elected state superintendents in recognition as ed } ucators?
 , A. Appointed state superintendents almost invariably are people of great CT ability than elected state superin- l tendents.
 } 12. Why is this the case? 3 A. Because they are selected pure } ly on a basis of professional ability, , while the elected superintendents us- 5 ually depend for positions upon their t political ability.
 13. Who favors this amendment ? - A. It has been endorsed by the lry