The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-07-03
PRESENT STATUS OF
IDAHO SCHOOL PLAN
LETTER FROM X. l.. BRATNARD
MAKES PLAIN SOME OF THE
M00TED QUESTIONS

/ Judging from newspaper articles
and from statements heard from in
dividuals, there is still a somewhat
! general misconception as to the status
of the state board of education, the
/ commissioner of education and the
state superintendent of public instruc-
tion, as a result of legislative enact
ment by the recent session of the
Legislature.
Many have been led to believe that
with the retirement of the commits
sioner of education, whose salary was
not provided for after the first of
July, the duties of his office de-
volve upon the superintendent of pub
lie instruction, which is erroneous.
The attention of The Star-Mirror
ment from R. l.. Brainard, state re-
preventative and chairman of the
educational institutions committee,
which sets forth clearly the present
status of the board of education.
The following excerpts are taken
from the letter:
The present status of the state
board of education of Idaho and the
state commissioner of education, as
a result of legislative enactment at
the recent session of the Legislature,
continues to be very much misunder-
stood, if published accounts in news
papers over the state may be judged
correctly. Statements emanating
from Boise and published over the
state would lead one to believe that
the legislature abolished the office
of commissioner of education. Moth
ing could be farther from the truth.
The office of commissioner of educa-
tion was not abolished nor any of its
functions curtailed or eliminated.
The office was created by legislative
enactment and can be abandoned only
by similar method.
1.-The fact remains that the educa-
tional appropriation bill, as drawn by
the senate-the House proposal on
this item having been rejected by
only one majority in the joint meet
ing after a long and bitter struggle,
carries no appropriation for COM
missioner of education after July l,
six months period. The sum of
$4,000 was appropriated for an ex-
ecutive secretary for the state board
of education, but such office does
not now exist, but could, of course,
be created by the state board. Thus
the state board is left without COM
missioner of education.
Another mis-statement which last
week was started on it's rounds in
the state was to the effect that the
office of the commissioner of educa
ton and the state superintendent of
public instruction were consolidated.
This is not true, as no such measure
was adopted. Neither was the salary
of the state superintendent of public
instruction raised from $2400 to
$4,000 per annum, as has been re-
peatedly stated by Boise and other
Idaho newspapers. glance at the
journal will show that this bill died
in the senate.
"The Lewiston Tribune in recent
or general, which would answer the
demands of information or of curios-
ity, has yet been given for the action
of the late session of the Idaho legis-
lature in transferring the duties of
state directors of education from sell
ective hands like those of DR.. Bryan
to elective hands like those of Miss
RuSsum 1t is unfortunate that this
is so. because if adequately informed
the public might be able to appreci-
ate and approve the motives which
actuated the change, whereas, with
out such information the vague and
slender explanations which come to
hand are not reassuring as to the
Judgment upon which the legislation
was based Again let it be said such
transfer was not made and that the
duties of the state superintendent
are the same as they have been in the
office in previous years.
"The much-talked-of overlapping
of the two offices of state commits
sioner and state superintendent does
not exist, as anyone familiar with
the work of the offices can readily
discern. The school superintendent
has enough duties devolving upon the
office to direct the school system of
the state. Although member of the
state educational board, the state
Superintendent is the same as other
members of that board, dependent
after all upon the data and informa-
ton CLEANED from the field by the
state commissioner. Miss Russum's
office has all it can do to look after
the duties prescribed for it under the
constitution 1t is to be observed,
so far as the public is aware at least,
that no friction exists between the
two offices The heads of the two
departments evidently do not find
their duties infringing. To do away
with the head of the Idaho p1an.'
which has won the admiration and
emulation of other states upon the
plea of economy would be misplaced
confidence in the abolishment Of the
office to make a saving. The waste
that would result from such abolish
ment would in very short time more
than make up any saving in salary of
the office"