Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-02-14
THE wEEKlYIADE PENDENT
Has circulation more than DOUBLE
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the county.
Independent school LaW-Some OF
the Changes Made by the New
Law.

Inv
1t must be matter Of some in
terest to the people of our town,
to learn the changes and modifi-
cations which the adoption of the
law passed by the recent legisla-
ture will make in the provisions
of the general law, which now con-
trolls the Board Of Education OF
this district. Believing this, we
have taken some time in examin-
ing the two laws, and submit the
following as the most important
changes which will result from the
adoption Of the new law:
First, Under the provisions of
the general law, three commits
sioners were elected in the month
of August, whose term of Office
commenced on the first Monday of
September and continued two
years; one Of the three being
elected as president of the board.
Under the new law, this dis
trict will have five commissioners,
no two of whom can reside in the
same ward, who will be elected in
November, and will hold for the
term of two years, commencing
the first of January succeeding
their election the president Of
the board being elected by the
members of the same, and two or
three, as the case may be, of the
commissioners will hold over, so
that at no time will the board be
composed entirely of new men,
bers.
Second. The general law re-
quired all school elections to be
held at the school houses of the
district. This provision was found
inconvenient to voters, as the
place of voting was generally in
an out of the way place. This has
been SO changed as to authorize
the election to take place at the
Court House or other public
places designated by the board.
Third, The general law author
lied trustees ofadjoining districts,
to transfer children from their
district to this, without the con-
sent of the board, and without any
transfer of the fund of their dis
trict to the treasury of this. This
provision was unfair and unjust to
the people of the district. The
proposed law only sanctions such
transfer when made with the
consent of our board, and upon
such times and the payment of
such a sum as they may demand.
Fourth, The general law pro-
vided that the presidents of the
several district boards should elect
two teachers to act with the
county superintendent Of schools
as an examining committee. Nu-
merous and valid were the objec.
tons urged to this provision. The
two SO elected were not required
10 be examined they were en-
titled to rank as holding No. 1
certificates, and jealousy and bad
feeling was the result.
Under the new law, the board
are authorized to appoint two
competent persons to act with the
district superintendent when con-
Quoting said examination.
Fifth, Under the general law, in
stitute, normal school and profess
sional certificates entitled the
holder to teach without an exami,
nation.
The new law requires all to
stand the examination who shall
teach i'm this district in future.
Sixth, The general law pre-
scribed the text books to be
used in all the public schools.
This has been found from
experience, to work very
great hardship upon some, and II
has been the means of introducing
certain text books in our schools,
prejudicial to the interest Of the
scholars The hardship alluded