The Grange advance., 1874-07-01

ter the close Of his remarks the I'd
question was further discussed and it
Was suggested that contract should
be made for the return Of good
teachers before the close Of the old
term-that the officers should visit the
schools. .and if pleased with the work Of
the teacher make their approval known
in order to encourage the teacher.
Under Sd topic, a very general COM
plaint was made that school treasurers
failed to keep accurate accounts and to
make accurate reports as required by
law. The loose practice of paying
teachers before their registers are re-
turned to the clerk correctly filed out
as required oy law, was condemned.
Under the duty Of visiting schools by
the officers, the County Superintendent
said he found this duty much more
faithfully performed by foreigners than
by Americans, and dwelt upon the I'M
portance to the schools of faithful
performance Of this duty by officers and
parents. In the discussion of the other
topics many important practical
thoughts we're brought out. The law
that makes it necessary for an afirma-
tive vote Of two.thirds of all voters of
the district to change the site of a
school house was read, and the law was
by some considered impracticable, it be-
ing almost impossible to get two.thirds
of the voters of district out to a
school meeting. The County Superin-
tendent stated that he could obtain the
latest edition of Webster's Unabridged
Dictionary for school districts for
$3.50.
The only way to get out voters at
school meetings, was said to be to adver-
tise that heavy tax was to be voted,
and even this was not always eAectual.
It was suggested that an interest mi ght
be awakened in these school meetings
by the discussion, after the transaction
Of business, Of some question connected
with the common school interests, dis
putants to be appointed and discussion
announced in advance.
! The opinion of the Attorney Gen.
eral to the effect that there were no le-
gal holidays recognised by our school
laws, except, perhaps, the 22d of Feb.
ruary, was read, and pretty general
disposition manifested to require teach
ers under the law, to teach their full
time, making no allowance for holidays.
The opinion was given that CLERK
could not allow for holidays unless pro.
visions for such allowance were made
in the teachers contract.
The discussions all showed a desire
to advance the interest Of education
were of the most practical nature, and
we have given so much space to them
because everything that pertains to the
common schools is Of the deepest inter
est to every one Of our readers through
out the State.
The Convention appointed commit
= tee of three, consisting of Supt. J. W
Hancock, H. W. Bailey, Of Florence
and H. B. Powers, of Roscoe, to pre-
> pare and publish programme of top
les, assign persons to open the discus
sion on the different topics in advanc,
! of the next Convention.
A motion was also passed to invite al
school district officers of the county tt
join in the next Convention. The tim,
was fixed at 10 o'clock the second Fri
day in June, and Red Wing chosen al
the place for the meeting.
The following named Clerks wer'
present: District No. l, B. B. Her
bert; No. 3, E. A. Sargent; No. 13
Lewis Larson; No. Is, Chas. Oleson
No. II, w. B. Hancock: No. 18, A