PROGRAM OF SUPERVISING TEACHERS' CONFERENCE August 20-24 Morning sessions-Esther Vilas Hall, third floor, Y. W. C. A. building. (Entrance through lobby on State street; take elevator.) 10:00 10:30 Community Songs and Recreation........E. B. Gordon, U. of Wis. Informal Period. Secretary Wisconsin State Teachers' Association Group 2-Club Room, Fifth floor. Leader, Miss Bush. Tuesday, August 21 9:00 Topic........ 9:30 Report on Errors in Spelling... .Maybell G. Bush 10:00 Community Songs and Recreation.... .E. B. Gordon, U. of Wis. 10:30 Informal Period. 10:40 Value of School Board Conferences.............Gretchen Palmetier, Supervising Teacher, Clark County 11:30 Health Crusade...... Wisconsin Anti-tuberculosis Association Miss Rood 2:00-4:00 Group conference....Same groups and leaders as Monday. 7:30-8:30.. 9:00 Topic........... Wednesday, August 22 .N. C. A. W. E. Breakfast 9:30 What's Next in Composition.... 10:00 Community Songs and Recreation. ........E. B. Gordon, U. of Wis. 10:30 Informal Period. 10:40 Language Work in Jackson County....... Mrs. Pearl Rose, Supervising Teacher, Jackson County 11:00 How Speech Defects May Be Dealt With by Class Room Dr. Smiley Blanton, U. of Wis. Teachers..... 2:00-4:00 State Graded School Conference... 10:00 Community Songs and Recreation........E. B. Gordon, U. of Wis. 10:30 Informal Period. 10:40 How Our Arithmetic Tests Functioned in Instruction, Supervision and Examination Improvement... Frances Kenney, Supervising Teacher, Chippewa County 11:00 Travel Expenditure of Supervising Teacher. 11:30 Traveling Library Service....... ..Mabel A. Wayne, 10:00 Community Songs and Recreation........E. B. Gordon, U. of Wis. 10:30 Informal Period. 10:40 Topic..... 11:15 Topic......... 2:00 Group Conference as before. Isobel Davidson EX-OFFICIO MEMBER OF MANY BOARDS The State Superintendent is ex officio a member of the following state boards: Board of University Regents, Board of Regents of Normal Schools, State Board of Vocational Education, the Board of Trustees of Stout Institute, Free Library Commission, Geological and Natural History Survey, the Annuity Board, Mining School Board, and State Reading Circle Board. However, his relation to these various state boards is not in any sense official and his powers and duties as a member are not definitely specified. He is simply one of several members of each board with the same powers and duties as are vested in the other members. THE AMENDMENT OF 1902 The constitution contained restrictions on the salary to be paid to two of the state officers. The salary of the governor was fixed at $1,200, and that of the state superintendent was to be prescribed by law but was not to exceed $1,200 per annum. The salaries of the other state officers, namely, attorney general, state treasurer, and secretary of state, were to be fixed by the legislature. The first legislature that met after the constitution was adopted fixed the salary of the state superintendent at $1,000 per annum; that of the attorney general and state treasurer at $800 per annum; and that of the secre tary of state at $1,200. An amendment to the constitution was passed in 1869 fixing the governor's salary at $5,000. The limitation on the salary of the state superintendent continued for over fifty years, but during the latter half of that time each legislature, recognizing the inadequacy of his salary increased it indirectly by paying him for codifying the school laws and doing other "odd jobs" for which he could receive extra compensation. Attempts had been made at various times to pass an amendment authorizing the legislature to determine the salary of the superintendent just as it determined the salaries of the other state officers, but the plans miscarried in the legislature. However, in 1899, and again in 1901, the legislature passed an amendment to section 1 of article X. This amendment was drawn by L. D. Harvey, state superintendent of public instruction, and was adopted by a vote of the people at the general election Nov. 4, 1902. The amendment directed the legislature, in addition to prescribing the powers, duties and compensation of the state superintendent and other officers of supervision, to prescribe also their qualifications. The constitutional limitation on the salary to be paid the state superintendent was removed. The amendment provided further that the state superintendent shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as members of the supreme court and that his term of office shall be four years. It also provided that the term of office, time and manner of electing or appointing all other officers of supervision of public instruction shall be fixed by law. The legislature of 1903 fixed the salary of the state superintendent at $5,000. Some years later it fixed the qualifications of this officer by passing an act declaring "No person is eligible to the office of state superintendent of public instruction unless at the time of his election thereto he has taught or supervised teaching in this state for a period not less than five years, and, at such time, holds the highest grade certificate which the state superintendent is by law empowered to issue." XX STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION A STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CREATED The Acts of 1915 and 1917. In 1915 a law was passed creating a State Board of Education to consist of five members. The governor, secretary of state, and the state superintendent of public instruction were ex-officio members, and one member was appointed by the board of regents of the University of Wisconsin and one by the board of regents of normal schools. This law was amended in 1917 by making the number of members nine instead of five, and making the secretary of state ineligible as a member. The governor was authorized to appoint all the members of the board not ex-officio members. The board was authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of the secretary and such other assistants, clerks, and stenographers, as might be necessary to carry out the duties of the board. The office of the board was to be at the capitol. Powers and Duties of the Board. The State Board of Education had the following powers and duties: 1. To examine at the close of each fiscal year the financial transactions and accounts of the mining trade school, Stout Institute, the several normal schools, the university, and the various departments thereof. 2. To examine and study the business method and management of and the expenditure of public funds for the common schools, high schools, county training schools, county schools of agriculture, schools of domestic economy, continuation, commercial, industrial, and evening schools, day schools for the deaf and blind, Stout Institute, mining school, the several normal schools, and the university, and to ascertain the financial and business needs of such schools and institutions, the fair and proper distribution of state expenditures and the most efficient and economic use of public funds for educational purposes. 3. To have the exclusive charge and management of all financial affairs relating to capital accounts and all biennial estimates relating to the schools mentioned above. 4. To require every state or county superintendent, and every officer and governing body of any school or institution mentioned above, to furnish such data and information as the board might deem necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. 5. To cause an audit to be made of all the financial transactions and accounts of or relating to the above schools. 6. To prepare on or before the 15th day of December next preceding the convening of the legislature, its recommendations as to the financial and business needs of and a fair and proper distribution of public funds to the schools and institutions mentioned above, so as to increase and promote the efficiency and educational value of such schools and institutions, and to make such other recommendations as to the improvement of the business, management, and control of such schools and institutions as the board might deem expedient. THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION ABOLISHED The most important function of the state board of education was its supervision of the educational budgets of some five or six educational agencies, and making educational surveys to secure information to serve as a basis for a state educational policy. Since 1919 it also administered the bonus law which involved the distribution of several millions of dollars. The board, however, was limited in its powers, and on the plea that it performed no essential or necessary function the legislature of 1923 repealed the law. While it is true that the board was limited in its powers, it is also true that the educational men and women of the state hoped that the legislature might add to the powers of the board to the end that through it the educational agencies of the state might be properly correlated and coordinated. This idea is in accord with the findings of educational surveys and investigations made in a number of states during the past decade all of which declare that in the reorganization of state educational systems it is essential that a state board of education be at the head as the general board of control. |