The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-04-11
CROSS PURPOSES IN THE SCHOOL
SYSTEM

from The Charlotte Observer:
The wisdom and the expediency of ending con-
elaborate situation in connection with the States
educational administration at Raleigh by having the
Lekklature name State Superintendent Clyde Err
win as executive head of the State School Com
mkko6 has impressed the newspapers of North
Carolina, even as it has inspired the school forces
into more militant action to have this change made
The present situation is out of line with the
nrbIrieties of the case and certainly nharmonious
with an efficient administration. ....4s. r..
The State Superintendent Constitutional Off
cet elected by and answerable to the people, S,
under the .preSent arrangement, only the ttular
held Of te schools while the State School Com
missions &neresture Of the Legislature and politl-
caly xo<>bsfed holds the reins of authority.
Thz kS&sbaper is in entire agreement with The
Gn En- <tffH News in this utterance:
,E5If 81 situation, the fair and logical course
mdst Isl 81 living the State Superintendent of pub
lici histsuton at least degree of authority, the
power ~ do something on his'oNai hook rather than
a Recognized dependence upon another special
agehe5 There; is not much sense or fairness in
roa,h;>z anon an official who can do very little if
any}hinS except go through certain routine and
ree64<teiia and who faces the practical necessity
ofkl<na&raing to somebody else to get anywhere
W#HSd anybody responsible when ne is not?'
f<> .&hreaSonableneSS and unrghteousness of
L. snch an anomaly continued appear all the
u><< aggressive when one considers the nature and
extent OF the authority which the State School Com
mission exercises in administering the school sys-
TEN while the State Superintendent, elected by the
people and held responsible by them for this all
ministratiOn, can only sit with folded hands and
accept what another body orders done in his own
field
10 is manifeStly species of confused and cross
purposed leadership in this important branch of the
public service which the Legislature cam and ought
to correct.
The foregoing puts the matter before our
readers and, if the opinion of this news
paper is worth anything, we -cheerfully
JOIN The Observer and The Greensboro
News in taking the position that the State
SUPERINTENDENT of Education. of North
Cdnolina ought to be the head of the de-
pertinent of schools or education.
Hhe present status of the matter is moth
fnr,short of an absurdity in the admins
tration of vast and important department
off the States responsibility to the people.
The State Superintendent is a constitu-
tidrlar official, elected by the people of the
StAte4 and if the man elevated to this posi-
tom by the voters is not qualified and COM
petent to be placed at the head of the edu-
cafbnal system, the Constitution should be
amended and another plan adopted.
The Times-News is not an expert in the
edpFztional field and is not giving expert
advice, but it seems to this newspaper that
the lohly practical and successful way to
nd1age the school system is to have a
St3A.department of education, with the
side Superintendent as the head and re-
spSAsible manager of the department.. Con,
troll of the educational system of the Stats
shSile not be delegated to politicians, TIE
popular election of as superintendent bring,
intbl me system s';sufieiency Of pottiSs
butlif the VOTERS of North Carolina canno
find, and elect to this office a man of Quail
fcAEons and capacity to take charge Q
tAs department and successfully conduct it
what we need is an entire change in tn
system.
Eligible men being scarce in Germany
unmarried women probably don't relish tn
governments call to arms.
bilA,.+ AJa,.f a<nsn h4z,A, askoh All fotl019AI