THEIR VIEW
Why do we even have a state board?

The initial reaction to the State Board of Education's decision to elect a homeschooling mom as its next chairwoman at times has bordered on hysteria.

We admit we have some concerns about the selection of someone who supports vouchers and campaigned so actively against the election of the education superintendent with whom the board should work closely. But while the way Kristin Maguire has chosen to educate her own children does raise questions about her commitment to public education, that alone should not disqualify her from the position.

Ms. Maguire is by all accounts a smart, hardworking member of the board. ...

Still, Ms. Maguire's election reminds us of a question that doesn't get asked nearly as often as it should: Why, exactly, is it that we have a State Board of Education? ...

To the extent that the board serves a purpose, it's to diffuse the accountability of the elected education superintendent - who in turn diffuses the accountability of the elected governor. And those are bad things. Even if we never let the governor appoint the superintendent (and we should), we at least should eliminate the board, and make education policy a bit more accountable to the public.

The (Columbia) State