The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-10-16
Tlle school Law.
From the North Texan.

q - mere HIS Deen q great zeal saiu against
the present school law by Radical SANDER
ers and senseless scribblers II is not
claimed by the authors of the present law
that it is perfect; but it was, in the judg
ment Of the Thirteenth Legislature, the best
that could now be devised. And that it is
infinitely superior TO the one framed by the
Radical caucus, and which was repealed by
the present law, will be manifest to any
person who viii take the trouble to con-
trast the two acts. The Radical school bill
established State Board of Education, and
conferred upon it the most despotic powers
A reference to section three of the act will
show that the power of legislation was con
ferred on this board, under which it has
made the most absurd and tyrannical regu-
lations. The power was also given this
board to examine and appoint teachers and
fix their salaries; and under this extraordi-
nary power, ignorant negroes and unquali-
fed and 9disreputable persons all over the
State have been paid the same salaries, as
thoroughly competent aud respectable
Teachers 1t also conferred upon this board
the power ''to define the course Of studies
in the public schools, and direct the class
and kind of apparatus and books to be used
therein In che exercises of these despotic
powers, the State board could force on the
people of the State any kind OF sectional,
partisan or infidel books, to the lasting in
jury of the rising generation and besides
they had it in their power to speculate in
school books and apparatus to an indefinite
extent.
This despotic State board, with its vii
lainous powers, IS swept out of existence
by the new law. Then the supervisors and
inspectors-a useless horde Of officers pro-
vided in the old law merely for the benefit
of partizati favorites-are wiped out by the
now law. ~ These so-called officers were the
teaches Of theo old system. They performed
no real service, but consumed thousands Of
dollars that should have been preserved for
the payment of the teachers whose honest
dues have not yet been met.
The new law, after blotting out these use
less and extraYagant officers, and that un-
mitigated 'despotism the State board, goes
directly from the Superintendent of Public
Instruction to the county board of directors
These officers are elected by the people of
their respective counties every four years.
and upon them is conferred the power of
prescribing books to be used in the public
schools of their own counties. These Off
GERS elected by the people and responsible
to them, will respect the viii of the people
and the, Judgment of the teachers of the
county as to the books to be used, and sat
isfaction win be secured to ALL The pres
ent law also makes it the dntF Of these
county boards to divide their respective
counties into school districts of proper size,
and number them; and to cause elections
to be held in each of suid districts annually
for three trustees; and upon these trustees
is conferred the power Of controlling the
schools and school houses, and employing
the teachers in their respective districts.
BY this mems it is left tothe people of each
school district to provide their own school
houses build them, tax or to build as they
see proper in case they have not already
houses provided; and through their trus-
tees they manage their own schools, select
their own teachers, and pay them what they
consider their services really worth, and
what they agree by contract to pay them.
The present law also provides that they
obtain certificates of their qualification TO
teach from the county superintendent; and
that they shall be paid according to their
contracts with the trustees, by the county
Treasurer, upon tile warrant or order Of the
county superintendent. And in order that
this may be done it provides that the pub
lie school fund due each county, shall be
transferred 1rOn the State 10 the county
treasury for that purpose.
The present law satisfies the Constitution
by requiring that the public schools shall
be kept open at least four months in the
year; and also consults the convenience Of
the people Of each locality, BY allowing
them to have the four months Of free
schools taught at any time during the year,
that suits the convenience Of the district,
and to continue the school as much longer
as they see proper, provided the school dis
trict itself, shall pay Whatever the public
school fund mag lack Of paying the teacher
for the time taught a-
The leading objects that the framers Of
the present law had IN view, were 70 make
the system simple, economical and effective,
and while satisfying the Constitution. 70
make il as satisfactory TO the people o. pos
able, by allowing each particular locality 70
select its oYn teachers and regulate its own
school affairs.