Red Wing sentinel., 1860-05-30

THE NEW SCHOOL LAW.

NECDA 1, MA 1 0U, IOOV
THE NEW SCHOOL LAW.
Important Con.neuni cation, from th.
&ate Superintendent Of Public In
structiosa.
To tho Editors Of tho Minnesotian & Times.
OFFICE OF PUBLIC INsrRUCT1oN,.
St. Paul, May 10, 1850, I
Letters received from different por
tions of the State, indicate that there
) should be an expression OF opinion b,
the State Superintendent, in relation
to certain defects and obscurities O
the present School Law.
TOWN SUPERINTENDENT.
It is undesirable that this office,
jshould at the same TIME, be district
school teacher. Among other duties
there devolves upon him the examina
ton and advising Of teachers also the
visitation of schools.
IF q :own at the annual election
has failed to elect a town Superinten
dent of schools, he may be chosen by
the Justice Of the Peace, togethe,
with the Board Of Supervisors of the
town, in accordance with the provis'
ions of article seven, section frs: OF
the "Act to provide for Township Or
ganization."
A town Superintendent of schools
can qualify by despositing with the
town clerk a written acceptance of the
office.
| SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
Every school district ought to con
tain thirty, and if possible, not less
than fifty scholars.
By section twenty-second Of the
amended school law, the town Sup
erintnedent has the power to divide
his town into school districts, at the
same time it is inexpedient to change
existing district boundaries, unless
the interests of education imperitively
demand that it should be done.
In forming new school districts, the
town Superintendent ought to be care
fal to see that there arc sufficient pm.
pills to maintain an efficient school.
After districts have been established
a map of the district should be made
and filed with the town clerk. If al
alteration of district formed by the
town superintendent is desired, the
provisions Of section twenty six Of the
school law must be complied with.
! EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS.
The last Legislature, in giving to
town Superintendent the authority to
examine teachers, omitted to repeal
that division of Section Ninth, which,
imposed the duty on the trustees of a
district. The authority, notwithstand.
ing, rests with the town superintens
dents. Section Thirteenth, Chapter
Third, of Statutes of Minnesota, enun-
ciatcs a general principal in these
words: '" y"
SIT conflicting provisions be found
in different sections of the same chap.
ter, the provisions of the section
which is last in numerical order, shall
prevail, unless such construction be
inconsistent with the meaning Of such
chapter"
SPECIAL DISTRICT MEETINGS.
School distrits may alter, modify or
rep cal, the proceedings of a previous
Injecting, provided contracts have not
been made, nor pecuniary liabilities
incurred. Section Ninth empowers
the trustees to call special meeting,
the object being stated in the notice,
and at said meeting the voters may
reconsider the action Of previous
meeting. All propositions should be
directly stated by the chairman, and
acted upon separately. On all impor.
tant questions, the names of those vote.
ing in affirmative or negative should be
recorded by the clerk.
! Officers, however, regularly elected
;;and qualified, cannot be displaced by
the vote of special meeting.
SCHOOL BOOKS.
! The stStatute of Minnesota" Chap.
ter Fifth, Section One Hundred and
Fourth says: "It shall be the duty of
the Superintendent of Common
Schools to introduce and recommend
to the Schools. such text books as he
shall deem best adapted to their
wants.
The difficulty that once existed of
obtaining books that were suitable to
the various grades Of scholars has
ceased. Many enterprising publishers
have employed gentlemen of talent
and experience to prepare school
books which are forwarded to every
point, where there is a probability that
they will meet with a sale. This
laudable activity, however has crea-
ted the new difficulty of knowing how
to select the best from so many which
have their respective excellences, and
earnest advocates.
After due deliberation it has been
Thought best 'to introduce and recon.
mend to the schools the following
works:
BIOGRAPHIES.
,s'4 No. /.
Monteith's First Lesson in Geogra-
|phy-A little work designed to teach
the rudiments to beginners. It con.
Itains the SIMPLEST questions with little