Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-04-23
SKETCHES OF THE ACTS,

SKETCHES OF THE ACTS.
~ apubiic character, and such Of them. Of awirae
xs relate 10 tais section of the STATE passed the last
l.. session Of, The. Legislature :--(CcsTIsvEp.
- An act for the establishment Of district pub
lie school system. PrescTbes that upon the pe-
titioN 10 the county court OF one third of those
qualified voters OF the county who shall have
voted at the preceding election for delegates to
the legislature, tho court shall certify the same
TO the commissioners Of ELECTION for the county,
and require said commissioners at the next sue
ceeding election for delegates, to open poll to
ascertain the sense OF the people upon the estab-
Iishment OF district schools in the county. Per. |
sons qualified to vote for members Of assembly |
only are entitled TO vote. The poll is 10 be re-
turned to the clerk Of the court and il thirds
OF the legal voters are in favour OF adopting the
eystem, II shall be adopted for that county The
school commissioners in office at the time shall
cause the county 10 be laid off into districts each
district to be Of such size as to contain children
enough to make school, and so that all the
children may daily attend. Two plats of such
divisions shall be made out, one for the school
commissioners, and the other TO be preserved in
the clerks ofiice-tho expense Of the division
and plats to be paid for out of the school fund.
1hey are also to divide the county into precints,
each precinct to embrace as many school districts
as may be deemed convenient, and in each pre.
cinct an annual election shall be held for
school commissioner, for that precinct. The first
election shall take place at such time and place
as the commissioners in Office at the time of "a
DOPING this act shall prescribe, after giving ten
days notice. The election to be superintendent
ny three persons in each precinct to be appointed
by the board of school commissioners. All other
elections after the first TO be held in the several
precincts on the frs: Saturday in June annually,
upon similar notice. The school commissioners
IN each county are declared body corporate,
= with the usual powers, and the right to receive,
hold and convey real and personal property for
school purposes; to fix the salaries Of teachers (;
TO divide the school fund among the districts; or
In case OF donations, to administer the same as
the donor may direct-'ro appoint a clerk, and to
allow him compensation not exceeding one
hundred dollars per anuum. Each commissioner
ls required 10 visit all the schools i'm his precinct
at least twice session, and examine the re gister
OF the teacher, and other matters touching the
schoolhouse, studies, discipline, mode of teach
ing and Improvement OF the school. TO make
returns Of its condition in such particulars and al
such time as the board Of school commissioners
may require. 10 submit q written account Of the
proceedings and condition of the schools for The
year preceding, and to give aid and advice to the
trustees and teacher relative to their duties The
annual meeting Of the said board to be at the
courthouse on the first day of the court in the
month of October school is to be established
In each district in which is TO be taught reading
writing, arithmetic, English grammar, geography,
history and the elements of physical science, and
SoSh oshCi oIdnCneS us inc school
missioners may direct; and all resident white
children In the district above the age of six years
are entitled to receive tuition free ofcharge Eve
~ district is 10 be under The control of three trus
tees, to be appointed annually, two BY the quail
fled voters at the annual election of school com
missIoners, and one by the board of school COM
missioners at their first meeting. The trustees
are required 10 purchase site and erect thereon
q schoolhouse, or 10 rent or lease house for that
purpose the terms to be approved by the board
OF commissioners; TO furnish proper fixtures,
books, apparatus and fuel, and keep the house
and enclosure in repair; to appoint a teacher for
each school and TO remove him and superintend
his conduct Teachers to be examined and an
proved by the board of school commissioners, or
by some one dePued by them for that purpose. -
one OF them Is to visit the school at least once
"a month, examine the scholars address the pu-
Pits, eXhorting them TO prosecute their studies
diligently, and to conduct themselves virtuously
and properly. They may suspend or expel pu-
pills from school.-They are TO return to the board
:ot school commissioners annually in September,
OF the school. Annually in April they are to as.
certain the number of white children in the dis
trlct over SIX and under s,xteen, and the names
of their parents guardians, and return The same
10 The clerk OF the school commissioners. They
are 70 draw orders on the sheriff payable to those
entitled for salaries of teachers and other expen-
ses, and they are especially to visit the families
Oh the poor and prevail them 10 send their
children regularly to school. While acting as
trustees they are exempt from militia duty i'm lime
:ot peace. If the inhabitants of district fail to
~eiecttrustees, the trnsee appointed by the board
IS vested with all the powers of the board Of trus
tees. The teachers are to keep registers of the
names and ages of the pupils, of The names of
their parents and guardians dates Of entrance and
leaving school, and daily attendance, and the
visits made by the school commissioner of his
precinct, by either all of the trustees to be
returned at the end of his term to the clerk of the
board OF school commissioners. One fourth of
the teachers compensation is to be withheld un-
I'll this duty is performed. 70 defray the expen-
ses OF the system, the board Of school commits
sioners are to assess the inhabitants of each
county tax, to be levied on the then existing
subjects of revenue tax and county levy, and TO
De collected by the sheriff other public taxes,
and 10 be paid by him to the orders of the trus-
tees. This tax is 10 be in addition to the sum
received as the quota Of the county from the Lit
terary fund. The sheriff for collecting and disbur-
sing the said fund is TO receive five per cent. COM
mission. The quota Of each county from the
Literary fund which shall adopt this system is to
be apportioned among the several districts agree
ably to the proportion which the free white popu-
lation Of each district bears to that of the whole
county The act imposes penalty Of ten dol
lars on any officer for falling to discharge any
duty required of him by the act recoverable by
motion OF ten days notice before The circuit court
OF the county.-The attorney for the common
wealth TO prosecute for the penalty. Annual re-
ports are to be made rs heretofore by the boards
ofcsehool commissioners, TO the superintendent of
the Literary fund. Any county or corporation
which may adopt the system may after one or
more years trial reject itby majority Of its quail
flied voters. Those counties who do not choose
TO adopt the foregoing system may adopt the fol.
Ia rIrr A