The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-10-02

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,
STATE OF TEXAS,
AUSTIN, September %, 1873.

STATE OF TEXAS,
AUSTIN, September %, 1873.
To Boards of School Directors, State of Texas:
Your attention is called to section q Of IAN act to
establish and maintain system of public free schools
in The State Of Texas, passed May 90 1873 follows:
SECTION y. The board OF school directors OF each
county shall require the trustees of each school dis
trict Immediately after their election to take the
scholastic population Of the district making separate
lists Of the white and colored children Said board
shall also require said trustees to provide the necessary
schools and school houses for the scholastic popu-
dren and so arranging the schools and school houses
that good order Peaae and harmony may be maintained
in the schools Said trustees shall employ competent
teachers for all the schools In their respective districts
and that the schools are taught and properly con-
Quoted for az least fnr months in the year, pE0ded
the Tree schools may continue TOT longer period than
four months If the amount Of the school fund Is sut-
Client, or II the citizens OF the district or subdistrlct
by paymentof tuition or subscription viii supply the
deficiency; and il the income derived from the public
school fund apportoned to the school districts SHALL
In any district not be sucent Tor this purpose the
board of directors shall levy al 0dI0reDs tax upon
all taxable property in said district sufficient to supply
Section II of the above cited act requires the State
Comptroller to keep correct abstract Of the schol-
astic population in the different counties Of the State
etc Upon application to that officer for consolidated
report of the scholastic inhabitants, he informs me
that only eleven counties this State have made fall
scholastic returns for the year ending August 81 1873
For the previous year only thirteen counties had made
complete returns within the time prescribed by the
school law of 1866.
To enable this Office to comply with section Of the
present school lawin the school fund as
required by said section, Boards of School Directors
w without delay enforce in their respective counties
that provision Of section p requiring trustees ITO
THE SCHOLASTIC POPULATION Of their district.
County Superintendents will furnish to the State
Comptroller and to this Office consolidated reports OF
the scholastic taken by the trustees. at the
earliest moment possible.
In counties where school directors have resigned
and others have been appointed in their stead the
rotary of each board will forward to this Office the
names of such persons, their pOsoice addresses ano
certified copy Of the order Of the county court under
which they appointed. as well as their position
on the board, il subsequently elected to the office Of
president or secretary. The names and postofice ad
dresses Of trustees with the number Of their precincts
and school districts will be forwarded to this Office BY
County superintendent with statement showing
whether they have been elected or appointed.
School Directors appointed by county courts before
entering their duties will take and subscribe the
constitutional oath before person authorized tc
administer oaths and send the same 20 this office fo
! file.
The Attorney General having decided that the posi-
ton Of School Trustee is not Office within the mean
ing Of section /, article XIl Of the Constitution, nc
oath of Office is required from them Hence females
as well males can I'LL that position.
Section of article * Of the Constitution, Is hereby
published for the information of School Trustees, by
which It will be that distinction be made
in the pay of male and female teachers other than that
arising from superiority of qualification:
ARTICLE TX, Section f. The Legislature shat estab
sh Uniform system Of public free schools through
/ out the State"
When il is born in mind that no apportionment Of
the school fund for the current year can be made unit
the consolidated scholastic census returns shall have
been received the Importance Of making these returns
promptly cannot fail to be perceived.
All necessary blanks for school officers and teachers
/ will be forwarded In few days
se26 6td&itw Superintendent Public Instruction