The Legislative Control of State Normal Schools (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 Excerpt: ...school system and the intimate relationship which the normal school bears to it again make it seem reasonable that the superintendent should occupy a place on the board of control. Exact data would be difficult to obtain concerning the effect of the superintendent as ex-officio member on the normal school board. This study does not offer such data. However, our contention is that the unit plan for governing state teacher training institutions will make this condition unnecessary in states where the superintendent can be appointed by the unit board. In others, it may be wise to retain the superintendent in some such relationship, until a constitutional amendment gives the board the authority to make the appointment. Compensation of Members. Our data show that the "unpaid board" is typical in nearly all states. This conforms to the opinions of the best educational authority on the subject. A few states have salaried boards for the control of normal schools and other state institutions, but the experiment is too new to furnish any evidence that such a procedure is necessary in American education. After providing a board for the control of teacher training agencies of this type, including the details suggested by the preceding discussion, namely, a state-unit board composed of from three to five members appointed by the governor, or elected at a separate election, with terms of service at least longer than that of the governor, and serving without compensation, it is then well to ask the question: Is efficient control of the institution insured? An affirmative answer can be given only in so far as this board has a clear conception of its duties, looks carefully to its own organization, and provides the administrative machinery which will inspire and m...