North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-02-20
EDUCATIONAL.

lowing synopsis Of two important bills
now pending in our Sta:e Legislature
Educational matters promise to receive
considerable attention from our Leglsla-
ture this winter, and it is almost certain
that bill will be passed ere the close OF
the session, calculated to enhance the in
terest Of education it the Commonwealth.
Two bills have been introduced in the
House, one of which is supplement to an
act for the regulation and continuance of a
system of education by common schools,
approved May 9th, 1854; the other is can
act to increase the efficiency of the COM
mon schools for the education ofteachers." "
The first provides that from and after the
first Monday in June, 1867, and every
year thereafter, there shall be levied upon
the real estate and personal property tax
oftwo mills upon the assessrd valuation
thereof amount thus raised to be ap-
piled exclusively to defraying the expen-
ses of instruction in the common schools
of the Commonwealth. Said tax shall be
levied, assessed, aud collected by the same
officers who levy, assess. and collect State
and County taxes, and the same shall be
paid TO the County Treasurer, who shall
pay it to the State Treasurer as fast as
collected All baancrs remaining un-
paid on the Second Tuesday of January
shall be charged against the delinquent
continues and draw seven per cent. inter
est until paid and such counties shall not
be paid the usual appropriations from the
State until said balances are fully settled.
If the Commissioners ofany city or county
refuse to comply with the req irements of
this at. the State Treasurer SHALL require
the courts to enforce obedience thereto.--
In addition to the amount raised by this
tax, 100000 shall be appropriated each
year out Of the fund. in the State Treasu-
rv, for educational purposes. A census of
all the children between SIX and twenty
one years of aye, in the various townships,
shall b. taken by the assessors at the time
the assessments are taken; on or before the
second Tuesday of January of each year.
Que halt of the m"hey receiv ed from this
tax inlo the State Treasury, aud the $500
900 appropriated by the State, annually,
shall be apportiOned and distributed to the
several school districts of the State accord
ing to The number of schools therein, and
The other half shall be distributed to the
several districts according to the whole
number OF children therein; The board of
directors or controllers of townships, bor-
oughs, and cities, may once lii each y ear,
levy aud collect tax not exceeding the
amount OF State and County tax anthor-
lied by law to be assessed, to be applied
solely 20 purchasing or paying for ground
aud the erection of school buildings thereon
The directors or controllers shall annual
" determine the amount Of school tax to
be levied for school purposes for the ensu
ing year, which, with the amount received
from the State, shall be sufficient to keep
the schools open not less than six nor more
than ten months in the year. The other
bill referred to provides that one mill Oh the
dollar ot taxable property shall be collect
ed and paid into the State Treasury aunu
ally. The money so paid IN shall be set
apart for the benefit OF the common schools
Que half 10 be distributed equally among
the schools of the State, and the other halt
as the annual State appropriation for schools
is now distributed. There shall be paid
semi-annualiy to the trustees of each acad
emy that complies with the provisions of
the act, two hundred dollars, proyldlag
there are not more than 0 such institu-
tious III county; where there are more
than Two, eight huudrtd dollars shall be
divided .etween them. Where t. ere is
no academy in county, the appropriation
to academies shall be made to Common
schools. Ii there is one academy and one
or more graded schools in county the ap
preparation shall be equally between them.
Each common school, before being entitled
to any part ofthe State, appropriation shall
be kept open six mouths, instead of four, as
heretnfore required. The appropriation
made by his act TO be in addition to the
annual appropriations heretofore made.
As the educational interests Of the State
are of the greatest Importance, have de-
voted considerable spa TO synopsis ot
the act referred to. Every reader of this
paper is interested to some extent IN the
public schools, and all should know what
are the provisions of the bills that are now
under consideration by The Legislature. l
do not pretend to say that either will pass
without amendments, but no doubt one of
them will be adopted with few modiffca-
tions.