Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-03-19
@tscgIIa1 1le ott 8 .
Common School Decisions.

We propose hereafter to give our read
ers the benefit of such decisions of general
public interest as may be made by the su-
perintendent of common schools.
Sub-districts cannot be required TO pay
for the erection, purchase or rent of school
houses out of their share of school funds.
That is in all cases the duty of the direc-
tors, who pay such expenses out Of the
general fund of the district. If sub-dis-
tricts were required to erect, purchase or
rent school houses, the whole amount of
their funds would be consumed in that
manner, and they would then be unable TO
keep their schools open not less than
three months" as is required by law, for
they have no power TO raise money, but
must depend entirely upon the amount
given them by the board of directors to
keep their schools open for the term speci-
fed.
The board of directors must appropriate
a sufficient sum of money to each sub-dis-
trlct to keep its schools in operation '' not
less than three months" i'll each school
year.
The board Of school directors can only
" control committees of sub-districts so
far as 10 prevent them from exercising
powers not expressly granted to them.
The school directors OF every district
are required by law to keep all the schools
of their district in operation at least three
months in each school year, (including the
schools of sub-districts,) SO as TO give every
scholar the opportunity TO obtain three
IL nd n
abuse their trust in this regard, they may
be prosecuted by indictment for misde-
meanor.
Directors have right to make such dis
tribution of the school funds between sub
districts as to them shall seem just and
proper, appropriaiing sufficient TO each TO
keep its schools in operation at least three
months.
In order TO create a third sub-district out
of parts of two other sub-districts, it is ne
cessary that majority of the citizens OF
each of the two sub-districts give their as
sent to the proposed alteration OF their
lines.
The certificate Of school teachers must
be renewed annually, and as no certificate
can be given except upon actual examlna-
ton. II follows that all teachers must be ex-
amined annually. The changes in the di-
rectorship of the public schools, as well as
the propriety of Improvements and fire.
quent tests of capacity, will suggest reasons
for these repeated examinations.
Newly elected directors are held 10 be
in office as soon as they receive their GER
tifcates of election, or claim their seats at
a meeting of the board with proper evil
dence of their election. The directors
supplanted have no authority to act alter
their successors are elected.
There never is new board Of directors
where the law takes It's regular course, ex-
cept whennew districts are formed. Debts
LEGALLY contracted by board of directors
in any year and left unpaid, must be liqui-
dated by the board in succeeding years
Directors NAV in their discretion require
the schools of their districts to be kept
open every day of each calendar month,
except Sundays. The most general rule
is to keep them open 2G days per month
but some districts limit the school month To
"a days. A less number than "a days
would not be sanctioned by the depart
ment. Above that number the length OF
time to be taught within calendar month
is at the discretion of the directors.
The occupation of a farmer is not taxa
bic for school purposes.
The correct mode of levying school tax
es is, first to assess upon all offices "a
posts Of profit, professions, trades and oc-
cupalions,' except the occupation of farm
ers. "and upon all single freemen above
the age of II years who do not follow any
occupation, any sum which the school di-
rectors shall deem proper and sufficient,
not exceeding the amount assessed Oh the