Litchfield enquirer., 1841-07-15

Whereas it has been shown to this Assembly, by the
 Merchants Bank, at Norwich that by reason of the
 payment Ot the bonus required to be paid by the
 charter of said bank, and by losses heretofore sus.
 tained by said bank, their capital stock does not
 now amount to the sum of fifty dollars each
 sfure o said stock, as by said charter is provided.
 Be enacted by the Senate aud House 0f Representa- tues, ln General Assembly cOnUened That the direc- tors of seid Sank be, and they hereby empower ed to reduce the capital stock of the a sum not less than one hundred and twenty thousand dol laFs and the shares of said stock to sum not less than forty dollars each.
 Approved, June g lSil.
 An Act concerning Common Schools
 Be endctedb the Senate and House of Rz'rescnt0- tees, ia General Assembly conuened, As follows:
 I. SChooL. SOCIETIES.
 See. l. Every school society, established ns such, by the General Assembly. and the inhabitants living within the limits of any ecclesiastical society, incor poraed with local lnits or such portions of the same us have not been specially incorporated shall consll- tute school society; and as such shall he a body corporate and respectively have power to establish purchase, receive, hold and convey any real or per sonal property for school society purposes 10 build and repair school houses to lay taxes; 10 sue and be sued and to make all lawful agreements and re- eu!aons for the useful education of all the children of the society.
 Sec. 9. Every school society shall hold an annual meeting on the second Monday of September, or on the first Monday Ot October, tn each year, for the choice of officers and the transaction of any business relating to such society, aud shall also hold special nSeNng whenever tne same SnAll Oe duly caHeO- The school committee Of the society," or Il, there be committee, the clerk, may call a special meeting whenever they shall think necessary or proper and they shall call special meeting, on the written re- quest of any ten residents therein qualified to vote
 which request shall state the object ot calling the same. All society meetings shall be held at the usual place of holding the same, unless some other place shall have been designated at regular meeting of the society. Notice Ot the time and place of every annual meeting, and of the time, place and object of every special meeting shall be- given at least five school committee, or it there be no such committee, the clerk, shall give the notice of any society meeting either by publishing the same in newspaper printed therein, or in some other mode previously designated by the society but if there be no such newspaper, nor sign post, nor other mode 80 designated, such school committee or clerk may give the notice tn such mode as they may deem proper. and the person or persons calling or notifying any such meeting, shall furnish the clerk of the society with copy of such notice on or before the day of holding tho same.-- Every person residing in the society qualified to vote in town meeting may vote in school society meet. ines. Every meeting may choose its own moderator, and may adjourn from time to time to meet at the same op any other place.
 Sec. 3. Every school society, 9t the annual meet ing, may choose clerk, a school committee of one or three persons, board of school visitors not exceed ing nine persons, treasurer, and q collector, who shall hold their respective offices until the next annu. meeting. ard until others chosen or appointed. Whenever any vacancy shall occur in any office in the society by deah removal otherwise, the school committee tor the time being may hlI the same ID their own number, and make return to the clerk of the society and any person legally chosen or ap. pointed who shall refuse or neglect to discharge any duty imposed by this or any other act in relation to schools or the edicaton of children, shall forfeit the sum of five dollars, to be collected by the treasurer of the society for the use of schools.
 Sec. A. The clerk shall be sworn to faithful dis. charge of the duties of his office, by the moderator of the meeting, or by justice of the peace shall keep ety, copy of which, duly attesed. shall be legal evi dence in all courts; shall preserve on file all reports made to the society, and perform all other duties ap-
 Sec. 5. The school committee shall have the care and management of any property or funds bel"nslng the sess 3 'hn Sg s e sH as the same has been, or shall be nrussd to others ny the donor or grantor or by the General Assembly, money which they may collect and receive for the use of schools they shall settle and describe the boundary lines of any new school district, or of any it's where the lines are no, now settled and described when applied to by the district, and shu cause the Same 10 be entered on the records of the society," ing the first meeting of any new district; they shall g.Se due notice of all meetings o the society; they sha make returns of the number of persons four md under sixteen years of age in said society," to the comptroller, and draw orders on the same for any DOT ton oi public money due to said society, as herenaf ter prescribed they shall draw all orders on the trea surer of the society, and perform all other lawful acts which may be required of them by the society, or which may be necessary to carry into full effect the powers of school societies.
 Sec: 6. The treasurer, when required, shall give bond m such amount as shall be prescribed by the society, and with such sureties as shall be approved by the school society committee, for the faithful dis charge 9f his duty. shall receive and take care of all money leases, bonds. notes. and other securities o the funds property of the society," except those spe cay entrusted to others by the donor or grantor, or hy law, and deliver any pay over the same to the or der oi the committee, aud render his account at the Sec. T. The collector shall collect and pay over to the treasurer all taxes or rates laid by the society and by warrant from justice of the peace, shall and beyond the limits of such society as collectors of town taxes and be liable in the samo way for refusal or neglect.
 Sec. 8. Tho board of visitors shall prescribe rules and regulations for the management, studies, books, classhcntlon and discipline of the schools in the soci ety shal! themselves, or by committee by them appointed for this purpose, examine all candidates as teachers Tn the common schools of such society, and shall give to ose persons with whose moral charac- ter literary attanfnents, un5 ability to teach, they are satisfied: certificate. setting forth the branc""s he or she IS found capable of teachings provided that no certificate shall be given to any person not found qualified to teach reading, writing, arithmetic. and grammar, thoroughly, and the rudmens of geogra. l phy and history shall visit all the common schools of said society. twice least during each season for schooling once within four weeks after the opening, and again within four weeks preceding the close of the school at which visits. they shall examine the re- gIstor ot the teacher and other matters touching the school house. library, studies, discipline. mode of teaching and improvement of the school shall anHu by major vote of said vsers the certificates of such teachers as shall be found unqualified, or who will by the visiters shall make out returns of the cond tion "f each common school within their limits, in 1 such particulars and at such times, as the board of direct; and shall submit to the society at their annual meeting, . written account of their own doings and of the condition of the several schools within their limits fov the year preceding the board of visiters gnH q nfnIf foo nT fIunn