The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-09-18
The Educational System of Michigan.
BY HON. +. l.. BROWN.


constitute, so far as relates to general in
struction, the educational system Of Mich
igan. The State Normal School is a
mere adjunct to these; its primary object
being to make competent professional teach
ers of the primary schools. Practically, it
is combination of the academy and pro-
fessional school
The State Agricultural College though
provided for originally by the State Con-
stitution as department of the University,
has been established as a distinct and pro-
fessional school of agriculture. The Uni
vcrsity is at Ann Arbor the Normal School
at Ypsilanti, and the Agricultural College
at Lansing, the State Capital
Besides these. however, there are in the
State several denominational colleges,
chartered by the State, endowed and sup
ported by the religious denominations to
which they respectively belong: as well rs
4 still greater number of academies, or
seminaries of learning, denominational or
otherwise over all of which, to 4 certain
extent, the State exercises supervision.
Most important of all, as the efficient and
all-pervading means Of educating the mass
es, and as the fountain and sced-bed for
the support of the higher educational in
situations, is the Primary or District School.
The primary schools are supported,
First, From the School Fund, derived
from the sale of the public lands originally
granted by Congaess to the new States, for
the support of schools, being section six
teen in all the townships; or one thirty
sixth part of all the public lands.
Previous to the admission of Michigan
into the Union as 4 State, the other States
of the Northwest Territory, Ohio, Indiana,
and Illinois, had appropriated to each town
ship respectively its own school section for
the use of schools. The State of Michigan
wisely assumed control of all her school
lands. regulated the terms and conditions
of sale, and constituted the proceeds of a
Trust Fund for the common and equal ben
eft of all the primary schools in the State
distributing the interest at seven per cent
annually to the districts by the scholar, pro
rata The amount of interest distributed
for the year 1868 was $153, 296.70.
Second, From the two-mill tax. In ad-
dition to the School Fund, two mills upon
each dollar of the valuation is assessed in
each township; So much thereof as the
electors thereof shall decide, to be applied
to the purchase of books for district or
township libraries-the remainder to be ap-
portioned to the districts for the support of
schools.
THIRD, Any deficit is raised by direct
property tax in each district An act of
the Legislature of this present year pro
vidcs that districts having less than thirty
children over five and under twenty years
Of age, must have three months school
those having from thirty to eight hundred,
five months and those having over eight
hundred, nine months school, on pain of
forfeiture of their share of the two-mill tax
and primary school school fund; and further
provides that the estimate of the District
Board of the deficit for the entire support
of the school, for the time determined by
the district it shall be taught, including
fuel and other incidental expenses. shall
be levied, collected, and returned in the
same manner rs township taxes. So that
the district schools Of Michigan are now
without charge, open and free to all, with
CT; Of,
the only exception being i'll regard to the
higher class of studies in the graded schools.
as will hereafter appear.
BY the foregoing, it will be seen that the
interest of the School Fund arising from
the sale of the school lands, is distributed
among the districts of the State according
| to the number of scholars in each the pro,
cccds of the two-mill tax raised in each
township, in like manner among the dis
tricts of the township and the deficit Of
each district is supplied by property tax
within itself.
! A township board of three inspectors
including the township clerk, divide til,
township into school districts, and rcgulat,
and alter the same, from time to time as
may be necessary; purchase books for the
township library, and make rules for the
same. TO examine teachers and inspect
schools was formerly part of the duties
of this board, but since 1867 the law has
provided for the election of county super
intendcnt in all counties containing tel
Z I:
Gates to teachers, and has the general SUI
pcrvision of all the schools in the county
except those which, by special enactment
have board authorized to inspect ant
grant certificates to their own teachers
The officers of Il school district are a mod
orator, director, and an assessor, wh'
constitute the district board, and trausac