Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-03-19
Free SCHOOL LaWs.

81
For the Information OF the people OF
this county. We publish the following ex-
tracts from the existing laws relative to
the establishment Of Free Schools:
On the petition of one-fourth of such OF
the white male citizens aged twenty one
years. resident in any county as may be
entitled to vote in the election of dele
gate from such county. or shall have
been assessed with part of the county
levy within the preceding year. end acsu-
ally paid the same, the court of the said
county shall order vote to be taken for
or against the said free school system. on
dome certain day (other than general
election day.) within six months, at all
che places within such county ct which
polls are required TO DO open for such del
egate. A copy Of such order shall i'm
mediately be posted by che clerk al the
front door Of the courthouse; and every
such resident, 90 entitled 90 vote for
delegate or so assessed, may vote as any
poll opened under the said order.
The poll shall be taken, superintendent,
conducted. certified and returned TO the
court of the county by the officers, in the
manner, under the regulations. and sub
ject to the penalties prescribed in the
seventh and forty seventh chapters as far
Of the same may be applicable.
II two-thirds of the votes be in favor oil
adopting the free school system. the said
court shall have the fact entered on the
minutes of their proceedings. and order g
copy OF such entry to be delivered to the
existing board of school commissioners oil
such county.
The said board shall cause the county
to be laid off into districts. which shall
each have a sufficient number of children
Of the proper age for a school, and be Of
such size that all the children in the dis
trict may daily attend the school therein
Such districts shall be numbered and
their boundaries defined, and entry shall
be made thereof on the record OF the
boards proceedings. The board may at
forwards at any annual meeting, revise
and alter such divisions and boundaries
making entry thereof. A copy of every
such entry shall be returned to the coun'
~ court, to be recorded on it's minutes.
AS soon as may be after county is 81
laid off into districts. and annually after
wards, an election shall be held in eacl
district for commissioner, on such day
and at such places as shall be fixed By
the board Of school commissioners TO
such county in Office at the time. wh'
shall cause notice thereof to be given b.
an advertisement posted at the front doc
Of the courthouse. and at the most pub
lie places in the district.
Every resident in any such district, en-
titled to vote at any poll opened unde
che second section, may vote in an cleo
ton held under the preceding section
Such election shall be held by three per
sons in each district appointed by III
said board. and shall be certified by thos
holding the same. and returned to tn
first meeting of the board thereafter
Each commissioner so selected shall con
tinue in Office until successor shall b
appointed. Any vacancy happening i
such Office shall be filed by the board.
The said board shall establish a schot
for each district. in which shall be taugl
reading. writing. arithmetic. Englis
grammer, and geography. and. when it
ical science, and such other branches
learning as the said board may require.
Any white child. between the age I
/. six and twenty one resident in a distric
may attend and be instructed at Il
school thereof.
The said board shall provide schoo
house in each Of said districts. employ
teacher for each school, FIX his salal
aud provide books and stationery f
such Of the children as they think ougI
to be provided with them, free Of charg
All payments for the salaries Of teacher
or any other charges on the school fun
shall be made only upon the orders
said board entered on the record Of the
proceedings.
Upon every county or corporation. {
which there is board Of school commi
sioners under this chapter. there shall
annually assessed such sum as the ga
board shall deem necessary. in additi'
to their other funds. for tho free soho
system therein.