Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-09-10
ron rur srAvSros SPECTATOR.

last SesSioh vi our LEGISLATURE are several providing
tor some modification of our existing School Laws
or entire change of the System One Of these
Is an Act providing for efficient administra
tion OF the existing laws, the leading provisions of
which LIST. The division Of the county into
school districts Of convenient size. End. The ap-
pointment OF school commissioner for each OF these
districts. 3rd And that the Board OF Commits
soners thus formed shall appoint a superintendent
for the county, VINO shall be charged with the duties
OF Treasurer and Clerk, and supervision OF the
commissioners and the schools under their manage
ment. This act makes no provision for establish
ing schools, but merely mobiles the scheme now
in operation for educating INDECENT children and
may be regarded rs improvement of it, mas
much as it introduces more system, and by devolving
on one man the main execution of the provision of
the law, promises to secure more efficiency. Ii de-
serves remark too that under this new law provision
is made for securing accurate statistics of the num-
Der of children of suitable age to be at school,
This law is to be put in force at the October Court
provided no other be preferred by the county, at
which time the Court will be required to lay off
the county into districts and appoint commissioners
There is also an Act providing for the establish
ment OF District Schools in Essex county, and
another providing for the in Lancaster, and
fifteen other counties, provided in the former case
majority or the voters, and in the latter two
thirds, shall appear to be in favor of such Law on
n Poll held to ascertain the fact. There is also
Law for ''the establishment of district public
school system, passed March 9Th, 1876, whose ge-
neral features are the same those for the county
of Essex and for the counties of Lancaster and O.
theirs above mentioned
As the public attention has been called TO this
subject by the Education association and meetings
OF the people are TO be held in different parts
OF the county, it may not be improper to present
brief synopsis of this Act.
Sec. L. When petitionod by one-third of the
qualified voters, who voted at the preceding cleo
ic mad Juty NJ Tho
have poll opened at the next succeeding election
to ascertain the vote for and against the establish
ment OF district schools in the county, and il two
thirds favor their establishment, then the following
regulations shall be established in such county:
Sec. = The existing school commissioners shall
cause the county TO be laid off into districts OF suit
able size for furnishing children enough for school,
They shall farther set off proper number of their
districts TO constitute precinct. Each precinct
shall elect school commissioner, such election to
be held under the direction of three superintendent
to be appointed by the commissioners for the time
being.
Sec s. These commissioners when elected shall
constitute the Board of School Commissioners, and
to them shall be committed the control of the coun-
ty schools. They are to receive and hold all funds
property, &c, and apply the same according to law
Sec. A. Each commissioner must visit all the
schools in his precinct, and attend to all matters
connected with its discipline and instruction. at
Board shall be held at the October Court.
Sec. S. Reading, Writing and Arithmetic and
higher branches, if practicable are to be taught in
these schools, and all white children above the age
of six years shall be entitled to receive instruction
free of charge
Sec. p. Every school is placed under the imme-
date control of three trustees two to be appointed
annually by the qualified voters of the district at
the annual election of school commissioners and
one by the Board of school commissioners at their
first meeting after election.
Sec. z. The trustees shall provide school-hou
and furniture, and appoint the teacher and for good
cause, remove him. No teacher however shall be
eligible who has not been examined and approved
by the school commissioners committee de-
Puted by them for that purpose. The trustees, or
one OF them, are to visit the schools at least once
month and examine the scholars They shall re-
port to the Board of school commissioners on the
condition and prospects of the school. They stA1
ascertain and report to the Board the number of
children between six and sixteen years of AGE
with the names OF parents and guardians They
are to dlsburse the funds for supporting the schools
Sec. g. When the district fails to elect trustees
the trustee appointed by the commissioners shall act
Sec. y The teacher is to enter into book the
names of parents, guardians and pupils and keep
such accounts Of the attendance of the latter and
the visits OF trustees will present to the Board
full view Of the state of the school.
Sec. 10 and III. The funds for establishing and
maintaining the school to be raised in part by taxa
ton. The subjects of tax shall be such as are for
the time being subjects of Revenue tax and county
levy. The other part of the fund is the portion of
the proceeds Of the Literary Fund to which each
%unty is entitled
;, zee. IL. Provides for boroughs and corporations
uislhct from counties.
20 DEC IL. Provides penalty for failure to serve
=" sSPPOpted to any office under this act.
Sec "a. Provides for Reports to the superinten-
dent of tie Literary Fund
oec' =. Provides for change in the system or
us Ie9ec',Y by majority of voters.
Cec; ~. Provides an alternative to the plan above
ieci'eu' whiu / will describe in brief terms If
..o PeoPiG Pen'on AID then vote as rectcd i'm sec
'uen ISL lhen tf> County Court shall direct the
magistrates to be A,hmoned to meet =, Tho NOW,
G S ana consider tn act. When met they shall
dlrect the school commissioners to Law off the county
into DISTRICTS not less tina, three nor more than Sc
ven miles square-aen t. ascertain and report TO
ooul' 'he NUMBER Vi chllden in each district of
proper age 10 be sent . school. and whose parents
are willing to send then and the amount of m,onos
necessary to sustain the Abool rho Court +. mo-
Jorlty OF acting maglstras heinz nresentN sbou
next proceed to raise the K,ess,TSy an,o',nt ~ M
ney by levy on all ctizensnda ra,ahIo low, o
lands, lots and houses; and * lew shall bo ,SoJ
br, ,io uasea Oh rePoT. to4e February Court
The schools thus provided for sha be free ~ iii
This sketch presents many fealce of an ot,;oo
tionable character But at the sac ,i,ne IL oon
taihs the fundamental elements Of" ,cb SoI bo
Law, as believe it is practicable tes,ahI;sl, ~
This county. beg the careful attent' ~ l i.
citizen of Augusta county to this artck 81 ~
pectfully ask its preservation for future ie ie
believe have given faithful analysis Of W oe,
amending our present. system and of that ofre, "O'
a substitute. The Laws for Essex and Lancaa as
and other counties differ in few features II ,y3
be my duty and ismy intention, if spared, by pub
I,- IL H III Il