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lieve that the people interested in education
will set an example after all we have gone
through in brevity in arguing the interest
of one million children in the State.
I feel that this is a good amendment. I
want to thank the minority for the ap-
proach that it has made. That was a very
difficult motion to vote against. I accept it
and accept it gracefully because it is a
combination of the language of the ma-
jority and of the minority, and I think we
can work everything else out all right. I
call your attention to the draft constitu-
tion about the appointment of the state
superintendent. The people do feel that that
office will become political. I refer my
friend, Dr. Winslow, to probably the most
stringent and most definite requirement
that the State Board and the state superin-
tendent of schools of Nebraska be in the
constitution. I refer also to New York and
others. I believe, sir, that it would be better
and safer and more consoling and comfort-
ing, if you please, to the people of the
State, if this were in there.
I realize what you have done to the
others, and I respectfully ask your support
and that we hurry up and get this thing
over with. We have taken the first part.
Let us take this one, and then get on to
the other business.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Kirkland,
will you take the floor to answer a question?
DELEGATE KIRKLAND: Yes, I will.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mentzer.
DELEGATE MENTZER: Delegate Kirk-
land, in addition to clarifying who will ap-
point the state superintendent of schools,
does this amendment also require that
board members will be lay persons and not
professional educators?
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Kirkland.
DELEGATE KIRKLAND: It is the in-
tent that they be lay members, yes, indeed.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mentzer.
DELEGATE MENTZER: I would be
very glad to support this amendment. I see
no harm in it at all.
DELEGATE KIRKLAND: Thank you.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Kirkland,
the Chair is puzzled by your answer. I am
not sure that I heard you. Did I under-
stand you to say it is the intent of this
amendment that the members of the board
be lay persons?
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DELEGATE KIRKLAND: In f act, when
I asked the amendment to be prepared, I
did ask that the lay go before the govern-
ing board. Actually, the intent was also to
amend that situation so as to make it clear
that it was to be a lay board. That is what
I prefer, yes, indeed, sir. Could I amend
that by inserting "lay" before "the" in
the amendment?
THE CHAIRMAN: You mean in line 4?
DELEGATE KIRKLAND: Right, sir.
THE CHAIRMAN: Is there any objec-
tion to the modification of the amendment
in the manner suggested?
DELEGATE JAMES: Yes. I object.
THE CHAIRMAN: There is objection.
The amendment as the Chair reads it does
not affect the character of the board. It
goes to the character of the state superin-
tendent; is that correct, Delegate Kirk-
land? I should not say the character. Never
mind.
Is there any further discussion? Dele-
gate Kathleen Robie.
DELEGATE ROBIE: Mr. Chairman, I
voted for the last amendment because the
minority had finally come around to the
main part of the majority's thinking, that
we need a State Board of Education, and
hoping that I would have a chance to sup-
port an amendment putting in the state
superintendent of schools appointed by the
Board of Education.
The reason for this has been said many
times, but I do know of many states where
their superintendent is so embroiled in
politics that it is quite detrimental to their
system.
I think that when our superintendent
makes a decision, it should be with the
thoughts of what is best for our children
in his mind, not how the governor will
think and how the next election will turn
out.
I would urge you to support this amend-
ment.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are you ready for
the question?
(Call for the question.)
The Clerk will ring the quorum bell. The
question arises on the adoption of Amend-
ment No. 2 to Committee Recommendation
GP-6.
A vote Aye is a vote in favor of Amend-
No. 2. A vote No is a vote against. Cast
your votes.
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