The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-02-17
THE STATES SCHOOLS IN DANGER

THE STATES SCHOOLS in DANGE1l
Idaho citizens who are interested
in the integrity of the school system
of the state, as every good citizen is,
are just awakening to the fact that
In house bill I'll, introduced by six
teen members of the house of repre-
sentatives at Boise few days ago,
turks the seeds of ruin for the states
school system. AS is too frequently
the case, the people simply read In
the newspapers that such and such a
bill had been introduced, the purpose
OF which was to modify the present
educational system, and let it go at
that, taking it for granted that their
legislators would do nothing that
would nullify the excellent educa-
tional system, built up by able and
earnest educators, and which has
marked the state as one Of the fore
most in the union in the handling
of it's educational affairs. A hurried
glance over the text of the bill, how
ever, will make clear to anyone the
danger.
Briefly, the BILL should it become
a law, would make the states entire
educational system political foot
ball, permitting of the building up
through the educational system poll
tical machine more potent and more
dangerous than any that the state has
ever known.
Under the proposed law the pre-
sent board of education would drop
out of existence and in it's place the
governor would appoint new board
of four members, two to serve for
two years and two to serve for four
years. The state superintendent of
public instruction would be the fifth
member of the board. 1t can thus
be seen that with the office Of state
Superintendent an elective office, and
subject to change every two years,
and with two members of the board
to be appointed each biennium, the
tendency would arise sooner or later
to make the states educational sys-
tenn a political pawn, making party |
fealty and the ability to deliver the |
goods politically the principal quail
fications for a place on the state
board of education, under which some
two and one-half millions of dollars
is expended each biennium, and which
controls the organization and destiny
of the higher educational institutions
of the state. The office of commits
sioner of education would be abol-
ished, and with it would very prob
ably go constructive leadership in the
educational affairs of the state. There
would be the possibility, if not proba
bility, with the educational system at
the mercy of party politicians, that
the head of each educational institu
ton would find it advisable, if he
cared for his position, to surround
himself with persons politically sat
isfactory to the administration which |
would not occur under the present
administration, with it's earnest de-
sire for the welfare of the educa
tionaI system of the state, and might ,
not occur for some years to come,
It is certain that, as the men who I
adroitly play politics come to realize 9
he possibilities for building politi- i
,aI machine around the school sys- q
EN-, advantage of the opportunity =
would be taken and the schools would !.
uffer. u
The educational institutions of the
tate have shown wonderful growth n
n the past few years. under the lea p
ership of able men, consecrated to W
heir work, and who value the in u
erests of the young people of the
tate above politics or other interests, -
nd it would be but little short of n
riminal to open the way for the w
vethrowing of the work which has tr
cen accomplished. We fail to see ay
DIV any member of the legislature IL
no has the interests of the schools Ia
heart can support house bill 211, az az
i'd 1t would seem certain that, .
ould the bill be passed by the two OF
uses, Governor Moore would see fit
veto it. XII
Pa Pa n at
PUBLIC SENTIMENT RULING to
FACTOR po
rhe dry sentiment is becoming ~. 80
onger and states and communities O.,
, showing a desire for law enforce Z
mt and trying to get rid OF the no,
yless element. When public senti- ant
MT becomes strong enough it is far rec
re reaching in its effect than the wol
ong arm of the law. The severe tin'
o',o .~~-