The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-05-10

Making appropriations for general reve-
nue. purposes for the years 1854 and 1855.
Answers to Questions on the Scho oil
Law.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Columbus, April 90, 1854.
MIR. H. II. BARNEY:-I have recently re-
ceived a communication requesting me to
obtain your opinion whether it is impera-
tive upon the Township Boards of Educa-
ton to levy tax of two mills upon the
township. for the purpose of continuing the
schools seven months; and what the pen
atty is for neglecting it. You will confer
a favor upon me by answering this.
Yours, truly,
JAMES M. MAITLAND.
ANswER.-1n section So Of the new
school act. it is declared that '.for the pur-
pose of affording the advantages of a free
education to all the youth of this Slate,
there shall be levied and assessed. annual,
| ly, two mills (now one and half mils)
upon the dollar valuation, on the grand
list Of the taxable property Of the State.
In the last clause Of section "a. it is also
lucCiutc Gu tudt cdCu lUWuouIp DouIu VI
Educ alton shall make the necessary pro-
visions tor continuing the schools in ope-
rstion in their respective townships for al
least seuen months in each year."
Section 22 points out the way in which
Township Boards Of Education are to
make the provision sforesaid. The Ian.
guage Of the section, SO far as it relates 10
this subject. is-..It shall be the duty OF the
Board of Education, in any organized
township Of the State. annually to deter.
mine by estimate, as nearly as practicable
the entire amount Of money necessary to
be expended in the township for school
purposes other than for the payment o.
teachers, mesning. OF course. the cost and
expenses Of purchasing or leasing schoo
house sites; bu lding, repairing or furnish
ing school houses; providing fuel, &c. SIC, !;
and. also, such additional amount as the
Board may think necessary, not erceedins
taco mills on the dollar valuation OF the
taxable property Of the township, for ths
purpose OF prolonging. after the State fund!
have been exhausted, the terms of the sew
eral sub. district schools in the township
which several amounts Of money so esti
mated, the Board shall make kno,cn by
certificate in writing, on-or before the frs
Monday of Juno in each year. to the Au
ditor OF The proper county. who shalt there
upon assess the entire amount Of such es
Inmates on all the taxable property OF th'
township. not included in any city or in
corporated village, or territory annexed
thereto, forming any special district" &c.
&c.
| From the foregoing, it is obvious that tn
duty of Township Boards of Education L
make provision for keeping the several sub
district schools in their township in session
at least seren months in each year, is a
imperative as any other requisition OF tn
School Law; and if two mill townshi
levy be needed for this purpose, it is tn
duty Of the Township Board to so estimate
and certify to the County Auditor; and
they neglect 10 do so, q writ of mandarin
may be issued at the instance of any in
habitapt feeling himself aggrieved by sucI
neglect OF duty on the part Of rownshi
Boards.
i Ii is hoped, however, that no such ne
glect will occur. as would be disparage
ment to the inhabitants OF the township
and reflection upon the members Of tn
Board who should thus neglect or disre
gard their duty and their oaths Of office
| regret to state that in numerous in
stances, Township Boards Of Education
have mistaken the requirements OF the la,
in another respect allude to the frs
) clause OF section 22. which requires ths
all expenses for fuel, for repairs, for schoo
furniture, and the cost OF all school -hous
sites, and of school houses. should be as
: sessed on all the taxable property OF tn
township. The above requirement shoul
not be. must not be disregarded. except 10
} the reasons stated in section %. For tn
general rule is, that all the expenses men
toned above, shall be assessed upon III
; property of the township. and not upo
the property Of particular sub. districts,
The assessment upon the property i
each sub.district of its own expenditure.
is not only not according to the intent an
meaning of The law, but It is exceedingl
annoying to County Auditors to make s
many special assessments. Section 2
} does not contain the rule of assessment fo
all school expenses other than the ymer
. Of teachers. Section 22 contains the rul
and section 23 contains the exception I
the rule; and this exception should not b
. made but for the reasons set forth in sal
+ section 90. Il is believed that the la
would have been better without this seetio
. than with it, as it leads to misappreher
j sion as well as NAL administrator Of th
!, law. II was Incorporated into the law f
no purpose than to prevent an abrupttrar
8 sitition from the district 10 the toscnshl
i system, and to avoid exciting too strongl
the prejudices which usually spring U
9 against the township system before its a
J. yantages are fully known and duly appr,
q ciated. S sss5'sas ses
H. H. BARNEY.
# Com. of Com. School
# The Sea Giving up its Dead.
h Reports from Absecom and Barneg
't Beach state that several bodies have bee
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