The Superintendent of Public Instruction does not set policy for schools, determine funding for schools, pick textbooks, hire or fire teachers. The "Super" does little more than act like a politician telling others what they should do. Our Governor has determined, as has most folks, that this position is a waste of money.
"One of the principal inefficiencies Schwarzenegger suggests streamlining is one of the least prominent of statewide elected offices: the nonpartisan superintendent of public instruction. The current superintendent is Jack O'Connell, a former high school teacher and Democratic state legislator who will be termed out in November after eight years in office.
The only problem: The position is mandated by the California constitution. Eliminating it will require a two-thirds vote in the Legislature (don't hold your breath for that to happen), and then it has to be submitted to the voters for approval."
In other words politicians will protect this strictly political job--in Chicago this is called patronage.
We already have this "education" position, along with a Cabinet Secretary for Education, county boards of education, local boards of education, principals, and of course, those who run the schools--the unions.
Maybe we could get rid of one political office, if allowed. Thank you Arnold for reminding us that government is bloated--we need to blow up the boxes.
More...
"One of the principal inefficiencies Schwarzenegger suggests streamlining is one of the least prominent of statewide elected offices: the nonpartisan superintendent of public instruction. The current superintendent is Jack O'Connell, a former high school teacher and Democratic state legislator who will be termed out in November after eight years in office.
The only problem: The position is mandated by the California constitution. Eliminating it will require a two-thirds vote in the Legislature (don't hold your breath for that to happen), and then it has to be submitted to the voters for approval."
In other words politicians will protect this strictly political job--in Chicago this is called patronage.
We already have this "education" position, along with a Cabinet Secretary for Education, county boards of education, local boards of education, principals, and of course, those who run the schools--the unions.
Maybe we could get rid of one political office, if allowed. Thank you Arnold for reminding us that government is bloated--we need to blow up the boxes.
More...