North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-04-24
the sunnlement TO the Comman SCHOOL I..w

the Supplement to the Common school Law
Among the last work of the Legislature
was the passage ola supplement t. the
common school law, which makes certain
salutary changes in the manner of organic
inc, supervising and conducting the COM
mon schools Of Pennsylvania. This sup
plement has been signed by the Governor,
and is now In full force and effect. 1t
provides that when school directors are
unable to procure from the owner or own
ers of land, an eligible site for a school
such land, to the extent of one acre, and
the damages resulting from such occupan-
cY to be determined by jury of viewers;
and in case the award Of the viewers is
confirmed by the court, payment shall be
made within thirty days, after which time
collection may be made by execution, as
in other cases of judgment against school
directors; and either party shall have the
right to have reviewers appointed by the
court. .oa .... g..Fr 4 ....s..... .......... .
The same act provides for the holding
of County Teachers Institute, to contin.
ne at least five days in each year, and ap-
propri ating out of the money in the coun-
ty treasury, not otherwise appropriated, to
the county superintendent, one dollar for
every three days attendance of teachers
upon the institute, said sum to be expended
in procuring the attendance and instruction
of competent lecturers at said annual meet
ing; and for non-attendance, except for
good cause, teachers certificate may be
reduced in grade; and the time spent in
attendance on the Institute, may be allow
cd the teacher by the board of directors.
The superintendent must make full state
ment of the expenditures of moneys in his
hands. ,-.
The act also provides for the selection
of textbooks at each triennial convention
of directors, the same to be validated by
confirmation at the annual meeting of d.
rectors and teachers, held as now provided
by laws: and majority of the boards of
directors of the county may at any time
call special meeting of directors, for
the purpose of appointinga committee on
textbooks, prior to the triennial meeting
In 1859. City and borough superintend-
ents, in places having over 10000 inh,bit-
ants The act legalizes the issue of three
grades ofteachers' certificates, the lowest
called professional" which shall license
the holder to teach in the county, city or
borough where issued during the official
term of the officer issuing it, and one year
thereafter, and the third or highest grade
is called a Permanent Certificate which
must be signed by the State Saperinten-
dent. All professional certificates hereto
fore issued before the first Monday of
June, 1868. Any professional certificate
may be renewed by the proper officer ifhe
is satisfied that the holder is entitled to the
certificate. ..
The act also provides "that no person
shall hereafter be eligible to the office OF
county, city or borough superintendent, in
any county of this commonwealth, who
does not possess piploma from college,
legally empowered to grant literary de-
grees, a diploma or State certificate issued
according to law by the authorities of
State normal school, a professional cerii
cate from county, city or borough super
intendent of good standing, issued at least
one year prior to the election, or a ccr;ifi-
cate of competency from the State super
in tendent Of common school; nor shall
such person be eligible unless he has a
sound moral character, and has had sue
cessful experience in teaching within
three years of the time of his election -
Prorided, That serving as county, city or
borough superintendent, shall be taken as
evidence Of the requisite Qualifications