The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1953-10-16
Educational Grab-Bag

On November g. Election Day-the voters of
Ohio viii be called upon to decide for or against
proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution to
create State Board of Education The Amendment,
As proposed, Is vague, non-defined and misleading.
To the question, Who will serve on this School
Board? no implication is given in the state amend
ment other than leaving it to the discretion of the
Legislature.
Shall the School Board be appointed by the Gov
ernor2 by the Legislature? Shall the School Board
be elected according to the proportion OF authorized
state districts? Shall the School Board be elected
by the citizens of Ohio Directly Shall the School
Board be elected by existing School Boards?
The voters Of Ohio rlghtfuly expect an answer
to these questions before they enter into the serious
business of amending State Constitution.
The State Department of Education of the State
Of Ohio has been a respected office in the cabinet
Of every Ohio Governor whatever his political
affiliaton. There has not been and is not now any
statement of criticism in the operation of this
tremely important area Of State government.
No scandal, msmanagement. or inadequacy has
been announced BY those who are demanding a
change ln 0hO'S educational administration Our
state history tesfies that this has been an office
singuarly free Of political influence and pressure
In this we are happy 10 commend the Governors
Of the past and present their appointees TO this
position and the appontees their fair admins
trstion Of the office.
II is difficult TO appreciate what advantages
would be served BY opening our entire educational
system 10 the non-defned procedure which the
present amendment requests. Are the people of
Ohio being asked to vote for pig in poke?'
This is no amendment. It's most recent pro-
posal was in 1899 when IL received an overwhelming
defeat The judgment given then 1t is now. is that
this small group would be Immediately available to
every brand Of pressure group.
The integrity Of the office under the present
system has demonstrated through past action that
the wholesome program Of educational supervision
Of 0hos schools is good safe and progressive. Is
IL well To consider the abandonment of tried princi
pie and practice for nebulous theory and political
conflict Since The proponents have purpoSely
kept 1t vague and obscure. is the administration Of
0hios schools 10 be be turned into political foot
ball, kicked about by whatever pressure group
happens 10 have the offensipe2
The source of much agitGtion for this particularly
loose amendment seems 10. spring from political
educators The motivation for change which they
offer to the voters Of Ohio is To education
from politics II would that they desire to
move the State Department Of Education into
new political arena in which The voters have at
present no defined role.
Since all schools operating in Ohio public,
parochal, or private. are directly affected by this
amendment thoughtful consideration should be
given 10 the issue by every voter I'm days gone by,
the grabbse sold TO children by eonfeetioners
aroused The child's hope aud curiosity in the won
derful mysterious contents More often than not,
the child was disappointed.
Are the voters Of Ohio going TO offer educa-
tional grablbag TO their children in November?