Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-07-16
1yestern correspondence.


CoLFAx, Iowa, July I'd, 1869.
+ M. Editor: After an unPreccdentedly
long period of wet weather, we are again
favored with view Of the sun, which
promises to bcpermancnt. and truly tits
a ..consummation devoatlyto be wished,
for it has rained the most of the time tor
the past six weeks. The crops are looking
rather backward, but a few days sun will
make vast difference in theirappearance.
promised in my last, to give an out
line of the school system of Iowa; so !
will give The essential features OK her
uesent admirable system, which was
first adopted in 1853.
list. "Each civil township in n school
districts dividcdint as many sub-districts
MS there are ncighborhoods requiring
separate schools. Each sub-district elects
annually sub.director, and these sub
directors compose the Board OF Directors
for the township. 1t is the duty OF This
Board To select sites, and make contracts
iorbuilding school houses. TO hire teachers,
and to determine the amount OF tax
necessary to be raised in the district, Qn
addition to the State and County APP
portiouments,) to maintain u free school
IN each sub-district, Mt least six months IN
each year"
2d. Each county elects, biennially, a
| Superintendent OF common schools, who
examines teachers, issues and revokes
certificates, visits schools. hears and
determines cases appealed from the
Board OF Directors, has general over
sight of the public schools OF his county,
and makes IN annual report to the State
Superintendent.
Sd. a State Superintendent of Public
Instruction, is elected biennialiy by the
people, who has general supervision OF
the County Superintendents, and OF the
| Common Schools Of the State. lie
renders written opinions on the admins
trations of the school laws, determines
eases appealed from the decisions OF
County superintendent, appoints Teach
| crs' Institutes in various counties; pre-
pares and distributes school laws and
blanks 20 the County Superintendent, anu
| mnke, biennial report to the general
assembly,
llh. 1.-The public schools are maintained
| by fluids derived chiefly from three
sources: First, by the interest on The
school fund. (ThiS fund is derived from
| the sale of lands. donated by Congress,
being the Ii tn section OF each township,
and the SOC, 900 acre grant, and from D pen
cent. on the sale of Government lands
| within the Statc) Second, by count.
tax of not less than ono mill, nor more
| than two and one-hali mills on the dollar,
on the assessed value OF all the taxable
! property in each county. Third, by q
district taX-amount unlimited-on all
the taxable property in each district
township"
9TH In addition TO the provisions made
for the support of common schools, the
State appropliates fifty dollars annually
to each county holding Teachers ln'
Stitute."
9th. Provision is also made, whereby
two student, designing to teach.) from
each county in the State may leceil I
instruction free OF charge, in the Normal
department of the State University, AT
Iowa City. This department is especially
designed for the education OF teachers,
and II large number from various parts oil
the State avail themselves of lis advant-
ages. The State University is supported
chiefly by the interest of its endowment
fund. derived from the sale OF lands
donated by Congress- its annual income
being about $4,000"
These are some of the most essential
features OF the school system, and in my
opinion it is a very good one. Have been
much pleased to hear from DR. True on
subject OF schools through the columns OF
your paper. and hope to hear from him
again.
The glorious 4lh of July, is near at
hand, and doubtless Maine people are
preparing to celebrate that day in the
usual manner Of picnies, boat-rides, fire.
works, DC. There is to he grand
celebration in Des Moines, also in Prairie
City, the 9th inst. In Chicago, the
Germans are bound 10 have celebration
the 18th, Notwithstanding it is Sunday.
They have had considerable opposition
lately in regard to their Sunday picnics,
and they are bound to 60 the whole
hog" the 4lh, if for no other reason than
10 spite the religious portion of the COM
munity. Au Revoir.
Yours fraternally, G.. L. II.
The WEATHER. The two past Sundays