Our system of government has always instituted a system of checks and balances. They work well. Here’s how it goes: a policy setting board; an executive to carry out the policies and oversee the day-to-day; a court system to determine legal matters.

Ben Givan, president of the Selma City School Board, should go back to his ninth grade civics class text for a little more understanding of his role in the process of conducting school business.

Givan recently went to school superintendent Dr. Austin Obasohan and asked for the superintendent’s resignation. Givan made this move without any authority from a majority of the school board. Givan said he acted as an individual, not as an authority figure.

But how was Obasohan to know?

On Monday night during a school board meeting, a majority of the board said it favors Obasohan and wants him to stay.

Well, what’s not to favor?

This young professional has walked knee-deep into Selma politics, but with his eyes on a particular goal — to make the city’s public school system the best that it can be. He has begun to accomplish those goals through bringing various groups together to talk about what’s best for the children; setting goals and meeting them; working coalitions inside and outside of the school.

In a matter of weeks, we have moved from discussion of working together to see a new high school built or the existing one renovated all the way over to asking the superintendent to resign.

At this point, one can trust only in the system of checks and balances. The majority should prevail over imbecilic moves such as that by Givan.

And as for the president of the school board, he should publicly apologize for such unsophisticated behavior and resign as president of the school board.