Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-10-23
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND Ann
PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS


r Ei G,nrai .lsse0,Jiy J,ne S,ssio",H ID 1915
AN ACT relating Ia Public Schools.
His eaactsd by he Celoa .issensiy as Jai
I1ibS
l. Stais appropriation IHd Supervision Sec
! iion I'm
Section l. For the uniform and efficient
administration oi THIS Act, and the suporys
ION aud improvement ui such sgi,uols ~ may
he supported IN my manner out of nppru-
prlntlous from the General Treasury, Tia,
Governor shall appoint an officer, To- bc call
Cdthc Commissioner Of Pubic Schools, who
shal hold ms office one year, aud unrIl hlt
successor shall be appointed, with such CON
pcnsatlon tor hl- services, and allowance fol
his cxncnses, as the General Assembly shal
determine.
Sec. II. For the encouragement and
maintenance Of public schools ~ the several
towns mud cities OF the State ia the manner
hereinafter prescribed, the sum of twenty,
FIVE thousand dollars IS hereby annually ap
proprlaied, payable out of the annual avallp
Of the School Fund, and Of The money de.
posted with thus State by The Uultrd States
and other moneys not otherwise specInlly
appropriated ; aud the General TREASURER II
authorized aud directed 10 pay all orders
drewn by the Commissioner of Puhllc Schools
IN pursuance of The provision. of tins act. or
of resolutions of the General A ~sembly
Proriied, the aggregate amount Of such ~
deTs ~ any one year shall not exceed the
sum ottwcnty five thousand ,llarS.
Sec. III. The Commissioner of Public
Schools is authorized aud It ID ulade hs du.
ty.-
J. To apponIon annually, in the month
OF May, the money appropriated TO public
schools, among the several towns of the
State. IN proportion to the number of chld.
rem under the age of fifteen years, according
to the census taken under the authority Of
the United States, next preceding the time
OF making such apportlonment.
! =. To drnw all orders on the General
Treasurer Tor the payment Of snch Hppor
lIonment III favor of the treasurer Of such
towns os shall comply with the terms Of this
act, on or before the lst of July annually.
g. To prepare suitable furns md rcguln-
tions for making all reports, and conducting
all necessary proceedings uuder thus sct, mud
10 transmit the same, with such instructions
as he shall deem necessary and proper for
tho uniform ard thorough administration of
the school system, To tie Town Clerk OF each
town, for distribution among the officers re-
qulred to execute them.
4. 70 adjust and decide without appeal
aud without cost To the parties. all controvcr.
sizes and disputes nrIslng undcr this oct
which mny be submitted TO hIm for settle
ment and decision; the facts Of which cases
shall be stated IN wrltIng, verified 10y oath or
otlirmaton # Jcqulred, and accompanied by
certified copies OF oil necessary minutes,
contracts. orders md other documents.
; TO VISIT ns often nnd n. tar ~ prsc'I.
cable, every school di-uict in the State, for
the purpose ~ inspecting the schools. md
dlfuslng ss wisely as possible by public sd.
dresses, and personal communication with
school officers, teachers and parents, knowl-
DE o. existing defects, and desirable I'M
provements in the administration Of the sys-
tenn and the government and instruction OF
the schools.
&. TO recommend the best text bOooks,
and secure, ms far ~ Practicable uniformity,
ia the schools Of at least every town, and 10
assist. when called upon, IN the establish.
ment of, aud the selection OF books for school
libraries.
7. To establish Teacher. Institutes, and
one thoroughly organized Normal School IN
the State, where teachers, and such 80 pro-
pose to teach. mny become acquainted with
The most approved md successful methods
of arranging The studies, aud conducting the
discipline aud instruction OF public schools
r. To appoint such and 40 mnny Inspcc-
tors IN each county, as he shall from time to
tune, deem necessary, TO examine all per
sons offering themselves as candidates tor
teaching public schools, and TO VISIT, inspect,
and report, concerning the public schools,
under such instructions as sOld COMMISSION
sr may prescribe: PrOrided, that ~ lar a.
practicable such inspectors ehsl be crper
fenced teachers, anG shall serve without any
allowance or compensation from The General
Treasury.
O. To grant certificates Of qualification
to such teachers "a have been approved by
one or more county inspectors. and 'hsII give
satisfactory evidence Of their moral chsrac-
ter, nrtaInmcn;s, aud ability 10 govern aud
instruct chlldtcn.
10 10 enter, or cause 10 be entered, m
proper hook. 10 be- provided for the purpose
IN his Office, all decisions, letters, orders on
the Treasurer, aud other acts g. Commls
sloncr OF public Schools sud to submit to
tho General Assembly al the October scs
SION, an sunus printed report, continuing,
together with an account ol his own dongs,-I
Fus.-A s,stcmcnt Of the condition of
the public schools, aud the meaus of pupuisr
cducsIon generally ~ the STATE
Second, d,-plaus and suggestions for their
Improvement;
Thrd,--uch other matters relating to rhc
dutlce Of hls Office, a. he moy deem usclul
sud proper to communicate.
H. Powcrs and Duiiss oC 1OicnS. Sac II
Sec. ". TO provide for the education
Of nIl the children residing Within lh"lr re-
.p-ctye hints. the several towns and crics
oi the State are empowered aud 1t sha be-
Ihort duly
l. 70 lay Of thor rc.rcctive territory ~.
Io primary school districts aud tn alter ut
abolish the same when necessary PyOridcd
hnl unless with The appreciation ct The Com
missioner Of Public Schools, 40 new dsttc;
shall be formed with less than forty children,
over four and under sixteen years Of age
md that no existing district. by the iorma.
lion OF new one shall be reduced below the
same number of like persons And that no
ylsge or populous district shall be subdwi.
ted INTO two ur moro districts frt the putposs
1f maintaining school IN each under Que