If ever there is proof of the need to change the method of selecting educational leadership in Georgia, it's now.

The last two state school superintendents have provided disastrous leadership, costing the taxpayers millions of dollars. The recent debacle with the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests is yet another perfect example of poor leadership.

This testing calamity has already cost the state hundreds of thousands of dollars and will cost local systems hundreds of thousands of dollars in providing remedial services for students who supposedly "failed" the CRCT. Taxpayer dollars are being spent on costly mistakes such as this. Taxpayer dollars are then taken from other instructional programs to pay for these careless behaviors.

It is time for taxpayers, legislators and the educational leadership in the school districts of this state to stand up and take a stand against such sloppy behaviors. We can no longer accept foolish decisions from our state leadership within the Department of Education and not give it a second thought.

Now is the time for a state legislator to say, "Enough is enough," and then sponsor a constitutional amendment for the governor to appoint a commissioner of education for Georgia. We can no longer afford for this to be a popularity contest. Our children deserve better.

Georgia is one of only a few states that still elect the state school chief. Compare those who are appointed vs. those who are elected. You will find it makes a big difference in the professional behavior of those who make decisions that impact the instructional programs of the state and the academic achievement of the students.

Syndicated columnist Charlie Reese was right when he wrote, "What we get is what we elect." Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. It is time for a serious campaign against the archaic way of selecting the educational leadership of our state.

> Former state senator John C. Foster of Cornelia chaired the education committee.