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

The schools are TO be free. School commission |
ers refusing to perform any duty required by the
act, 10 pay penalty OF twenty dollars. recover
able by motion before the county court, and to
be paid TO the treasurer for the benefit Of the
school fund. The act is not to conflict with any
act organizing special system in any county or
corporation, nor with the provisions Of the act a.
mending the present primary school system in
the state.
An act amending the present primary school
system. Requires the county and corporation
courts at their October terms to lay or their coun-
ties and corporations into districts, having regard
to the territorial extent and population of the
same, and to appoint for each disiric, a school
commissioned. All the commissioners together
TO form board. Vacancies to be supplied. as they
occur, by the courts. Nine members, unless the
number be less than sixteen, and then majority,
TO constitute quorum oe the board. The board
is TO assemble annually at the November terms
Of their courts. at me courthouses, and then to
lect superintendent OF schools, requiring of him
bond and security for the performance Of his du-
ties. II he fail to accept or execute bond, the
appointment may be made at the next COURT
The commissioner Of each district is to transact
any business therein, to register and report to the
superintendent all children in the district be-
tween FIVE and sixteen years; to enter at school
any number Of INDECENT children which the dis
trict proportion Of his county or corporation quota
will pay for, at the rate Of tuition allowed and TO
subscribe such number Of days to each teacher
as he may think proper, directing such teacher to
keep an account of every days attendance of each
child entered by him, for which the teacher is to
receive the rate per diem prescribed. The super
intendent is TO perform the duties heretofore per-
! formed by the treasurer and clerk of the school
commissioners, to prepare and keep register OF
all children entered al school, and may from time
| 10 time require reports from the several commits
sioners of the county or corporation; he is al
1 fDr II r.l-
| commissioners the condition of the school sys-
tenn, with such information as may be proper; al
so his account as treasurer for the preceding year.
the said account TO be reported by said board to
the superintendent of the Literary fund he is to
require from the said commissioners a report OF
the number, ages, names and sexes of the child
rem within their districts, designating those enti-
tied to instruction, and the number of DAYS in
I struction received up to the 3Oth September an
nually, and TO report those facts to the superin.
tendent Of the Literary fund, together with any
other matter regarded by him as important, or re.
qured to be communicated by the superintendent,
OF said fund he is to fix the pensation of the
teachers per diem for the instruction of INDECENT
| children, subject TO the control of the board OF
commissioners; to open an account with eacl,
district In his county, passing to its credit its
equal share OF the quota to which the county is
entitled, notifying the commissioner of the dis
trlrt Of the amount TO his credit, and charging him
missioner on the superintendent he may re.
quire from any teacher any information connected
with his school; and he is entitled for his seryi.
yes. to two and half per cent. upon the amount
expended for the purposes of education during the
preceding year. The act authorizes the comus.
sioner of every district TO draw upon the county
superintendent. according to a specified form. for
the amount due the teachers for the tuition of chill
dren entered by them at school. 1.-THE present sys-
tenn o! primary schools is disapproved by the peo-
pie, the county courts the petition of one fourth
OF the legal voters ofhe county, required to or
poll to be opened in each county desiring it, for
taking the sense Of the people on the question
whether they will adopt system Of district free
schools or not. The persons who conducted The
elections in the next preceding election of dele
gates to the general assembly are to superintend
said polls. Persons qualified to vote for dele
gates are allowed to vote on the question. The
people in voting are allowed to specify their pre-
ference for any district system, whether the ge.
neral one, any special one which NAV have
been passed into law. Should two thirds of
the voters cast their votes in favor Of district
system Of free schools, and majority of said vo-
tiers be In favor of either of the systems that have
been passed by the Legislature, then that law
shall be binding upon the county. The act re-
qulres that so much as has already been paid by
the state for claims, on account Of payments 10
officers Of the revolution, application for the REIN
bnrsement Of which is now pending before con-
! gress shall be paid into the Literary fund, and
constitute part Of its permanent capital. The
act takes effect from and after the Isl of October
1916.