Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-10-24

for principle, abiding and permanent re.
publican rule for the next four years
perhaps forever. ANON. y
We would call the attention Of the
School Inspectors and Directors, and the
public generally to the following circu.
lar from the Superintendent Of Pub. ms.
CIRCULAR
10 SCHOOL INSPECTORS AND
DIRECTORS. - ~ i
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLlci
INSTRUCTION, !
Iowa City, Iowa. Sept. 18th, 1848.\
Gentlemen-Being very DESTROYS that
cur school organization should be per.
iected throughout the State as far as
circumstances will permit before the
meeting of the General Assembly, and
feeling satisfied, from the hume rous let
ters addressed to me, that it will be but
partial in its character, consider it in
cumbent upon me to communicate to you
my views at length upon this subject. |
have appended this circular TO one ad-
dressed to the Fund Commissioners, as
the two together will enable you more
clearly TO comprehend the nature and the
connection Of the duties devolving upon
various school officers.
In my communication If June 25th, 1848
to School Inspectors, presented for their
consideration what appeared to me, IN,
the absence Of clearly expressed authoritv.
a safe and uniform rule to be observed
in the organization Of school districts.
did not intend, however, to convey the
idea that any departure from that rule
would be Intellectual. On the contrary !
an: clearly Of the opinion, as no mode of
conducting the organization of district
Is directly expressed in the lar, where the
qualified vote RS have assembled agreeable
to notice legally given through the In
spec,or, and have perfected an organiza-
ton by the election Of directors, and are
fully satisfied with it, that any slight ir-
regularity in the manner of conducting
the election will no, invalidate it. The
plan suggested by me was deemed the
best and safest that could be drawn from
he law, and was designed mainly to Sc
cure uniformity. In some instances, am
informed, the people have vo.ed in these
elections uirn uoce, in others BY ballot.
md in other instances by raising The hand.
The former and the latter Of these modes,
although one Of them is prescribed IN the
aw, are incompatible with the 9Th section
If the 3rd article Of the Constitution, and
consequently the one would be as bind
ng as the other. Indeed, under existing
circumstances, the law being in full force,
md the notice duly given through the
proper officer, and no constitutional meth.
ID expressed in It by which the vote
could be taken, am Of opinion that either
If these three modes would be effectual,
provided the people Of the district are
atlsfed, and it is apparent that vote
~ ballot would not change the result.
n all cases then where an organization
las been perfected under such circum-
stances, and the officers have been dis
charging their duties to the satisfaction
If the people Of the district, and vote
~ ballot would not be at all likely to pro-
luce change, ! would recommend that
10 alteration be made, except to have the
Ulcers qualified. And even this IS not
equired by law, hut as the school money
8 to pass through their hands; consider
t important that it should be done. And
would further advise that all business
commenced by officers thus elected, should
70 prosecuted and completed as though
he election had been conducted in the |
manner prescribed in my former circular.
f, however, there is dissatisfaction, and
he Inspector if convinced, from a free
interchange Of sentiment with the cleo
ors Of the district, that a new election
would be materially different in its re-
ults, | would recommend that he imme-
lately give notice for one, US required
n the 9th section Of the school law, and
the same as suggested in my cir
:ular Of June last. Tho directors thus
chosen should Immediately make special
'eports Of the number Of persons between
he ages Of five and twenty -one years, in
heir districts, 10 the Inspector, which
will be forwarded by him to the Fund
Commissioner. | must here retcra,e that
am not authorized to decide points of
an, but feel It my duty to communicate
ny sentiments freely to the subordinate
'fficers; but if they are not satisfied with
ny views taken in come ction with their
'wn, they should take legal advice, and
proceed accordingly.
From the great diversity Of opinion
IN these subjects, and from the fact that
| large portion Of our population, being
lnacquainted with the operations Of a
ystem of public instruction, are in many
instances at loss TO know how to pro-
iced, and find it difficult to obtain correct
Information from an ambiguous and i'm.
perfect law. learn that many districts
n the State were not organized prior to
he LIST Of September, the day desi gnated
n the law for directors to make their re
'orts to the Inspectors. This being the
Ease, it is evident, without some special
nterposi:ion, tina: they will forfeit their
portion of the school money next spring,
IS the Fund Commissioner is required to
apportion the same to the townships on