The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-02-24
New School Law

IS New School Law. asav
As promised last week, we present synopsis
Of the Bill prepared by Hon NJ L. Fisher and
now before the Legislature. 1t is got up with
great care and there arc many provisions in it
that are valuable, but it provides a school
machinery too extensive to suit either the de-.
mands of new country or the wishes of its
people. 1t has too much West Point.ism in it
TO suit our notions. bet as we have the highest
personal regard for its distinguished and learn
ed author, and as there is scarcely possibility
Of its passage, we furbear any special criticism.
Observation teaches Us that the farther you re-
move common schools from the control Of the
commsn people, the less favor will the plan find
among those Immediately interested. Schools
are only one degree removed from tho family
hearth and laws in relation to them should sub
ject them to direct rather than representative
control. 81 '".'
We should state that the whole Bill contains
96sections. We omit the 30 sections relating
to the State University, as not being of interest
to the general reader:
Each civil township is a school district
Each district shall maintain school for six
months in each year, or it will fail to receive
its share Of the school money. Any person in
one district may be attached to another, and
his share of school moneys shall pass over to
the second district. His property shall also be
assessed for school purposes in the district which
he is attached to. Every district is made q
body corporate. The voters on the first Mon
day in May. shall elect board of directors to
consist of President, Secretary and Treasurer
for one year. They shall determine the No. Of
schools to be taught, fix the site for school
houses and levy all taxes for such purposes
The Secretary shall take a list of all between
S and 81 years Of age-give an account to the
Co. Collector of the school tax voted in his
district, report to the Co. Superintendent of
schools all the particulars of all the schools in
his district. The Treasurer receives and pays
out all funds. The Board of Directors shall
make all contracts for building, employ teach
ers visit the schools monthly, s c.. dc.
No teacher shall be employed without GER
tifcatc from the Co. Supf. Five legal voters
may call meeting. The board may appoint
an agent in the vicinity of each school house
such agent shall have general care of the
premises, and with the appreciation of the board
he may employ teacher. The hoard may ex-
pei pupils for bad conduct. High schools for
the education of teachers shall be established
in each county. One scholar shall be taken
from each district Chosen by the board of dircc.
tors and the teachers) to be placed at the High
school free Of charge. He shall attend the
High school three years, and if he is "good
boy' at the end of each year he will receive
$4,000. He will then be set to teaching by
the Superintendent and $780, will be deducted
each year from his wages-if he refuse to teach
he may be prosecuted by the treasurer for the
benefit of the County. Males and females to
be alternately chosen as benefciaries Of the
High school, but none chosen less than Is years
Of age. 50. ess -.-s a,sz----,-
On the first Monday in April next Co.
Superintendent shall be elected for two years.
He shall examine all teachers. He shall call
"
the County, and the whole shall constitute
board who may decide upon everything in re-
lation to the schools, school houses. books, &c.
&C., to be used. They are all TO do this work
shall visit each school twice in each year and
examine carefully into the manner in which
they are conducted. He shall report all school
matters Up to the State Superintendent.
The Co. Board Of directors shall establish
salary to be paid the Co. Superintendent. The
State Sup. shall lie elected in April 1860, and
tri-ennially afterwards. He shall have an
Office at the Capitol, report to the Governor
annually and keep up a general supervision of
the schools Of the State, meet the County
boards, select text books and decide all appeals
from the County boards. and to prepare all the
forms. Teachers Institutes may be established
at cost of $50 each to the State. The
Superintendent shall receive $500 salary and
all contingent expenses. The County Board
Of Directors shall (when the County contains
10000 inhabitants) elect trustees who shall
have exclusive charge Of the High School in
each County. Their duties are similar to those
Of the Township or District Trustees. Every
county Of 10000 inhabitants shall receive
$1,000 per year for the next six years, and
$1,000 annually thereafter from the Co. Trea-
sury to aid the High Schools-such counties
may also borrow as much as $1,000 at 10 per
cent to carry out the High School system! In
counties of less than 10000, a vote of The PEG.
pie may decide to establish High School,
the State Treasury will also pay $1,000 to each
High School. Scholarships in the High Schools
shall be conferred on the ablest youth male and
female who shall be transferred to the, State
University and educated free Of charge.
The remaining &c sections relate exclusively
to the State University, and we omit farther
details.
FdNette JOuyn0i-We promised not to sneak