St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-01-05
St. Charles City, Iowa, Jan. 5, 1860.
Tae School Laws.

in session at Des Moines, closed their
labors on Saturday, Dec. Gath, after
passing several acts pertaining to the
interests of the State. The
Schol Law, passed at the previous ses.
sion of the Board, received some ma
terial amendments, which it js believ-
ed will FENDER the law more accepta-
BILE to the people. No less than four
different bills were presented, by as
many different members, as substi.
tutes for the present law. None of
these, however, were thought to be
precisely what was needed, and the
whole subject was at length given to
a new committee, consisting Of Mcssrs.
Cooper, Hildreth and Roszell, who re-
ported bill based upon the existing
law and containing such alterations as
were deemed indispensable. This bill
was passed without alteration on the
same al ! it was reported Ivy the COM
mittec, and will take effect on the first
of March next.
One Of the most important amend
ments embraced in the new School
Law is reduction in the expense of
the County OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ing them two dollars per day for actu-
al service, instead of fixed salary,
and only. requiring them to exapine
teachers and make responsibilities ac-
counts to be sworn to, and audited
and allowed as other bills against the
counties.
An increased power is given to the
sub-districts, whereby they are ena-
bled to employ their own teachers and
have the care of their schools, &C.,
under the direction of the township
board, They can also build their
own school houses and do other bust
ness when the township board fail to
make suitable provision FOR them. The
provision for electing township officers
by the electors in town meeting is
abolished, and the township board is
to consist of the sub-directors only
The township clerk is to be secretary
Of the school board.
1t will be found that the law is sim
plified in many respects, its working
machinery is less complex, less
number of officers is required, and the
expense of the system is greatly re-
duced.
The law relative to the purchase of
Webster's dictionary for the schools
is amended SO as to allow the work,
(when ordered by the districts, to be
delivered at whatever point the Sec
rotary may designate, and full pay
mcnt to be made ut once.
Much of the}time Of the session wa.
spent in the attempt-or rather in re
sis:ing the attempt-to cut down the
salary Of the Secretary. BY the State
Constitution the Secretary is made the
Executive officer of the Board-in 9th
or words, the State Superintendent o
Common Schools very important
and responsible position. This office
was last year filled by the election o.
Col. Thomas II. Benton, Jr., a gentle
man of. superior literary attainments
aud high standing and influence in the
State. But the Democratic politicians
could not. and probably never will
forgive him for abandoning their par
ty and joining the Rcpublicans-hence
an incessant effort was made Ly the
Democratic members of the Board t.
get rid Of him in one way or another
They naturally inferred that if they
could degrade the Office of Secretary
to second or third rate clerk ship, by
reducing the salary, &c. Mr.. Benton
would decline to serve, and they
should thus be rid of him. This was
the loco foeo game, and the two OF
three Republicans. who recreantly
lent hand to it, were either disap.
pointed applicants for the same office
or they now desired it. The true friends
of the great educational system Of the
State, as at present inaugurated, com
bated, and that successfully, this at
tempt to deprive the system Of its
important head, its skillful aud eff
cient engineer. The salary and the
duties Of the Office Of Secretary, as
defined in the law Of the previous SEES
sion, are still retained, and, more thar
that, Col. Benton is reelected.
The question of text books to b
recommended Cor the use of the
schools of the State, engaged the Sc
rious attention Of the Board, and some
alterations were made to the list rec
ommendcd last year. 1t is left option
al with the schools to use either San
ders' or NcGuffys Readers aud Spell
lers. Billions Grammar was recon
mended in place Of Pinneo's Robin
sons Geometry and Surveying il
place Of Davies; Wells Philosophy IL
place of Parker's and Hooker's Phys
iology in place Of Cutters. To the
list was added Brockelsby's. Meteorol
ogy and Astronomy; and Wells Sci
ence Of Common Things. No Geogra
plies were recommended because o.
the imperfections, as regards the Yves
tern States, at least. Of all the Geog
raphies which the Board examined. II
Is understood, however, that the pub
fishers Of Olney's Geography are re