The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-01

We reply that 1t remains to-day as it was
the day it was onacted--in 1858, we believe. |
The statute seems plain and specific enough.
1t provides that the several towns In the
state shall annually, on the first Tuesday
of March, or rather at the annual March
meeting, "elect one person to be superln-
/" tendent Of common schools within such
"town. who shall hold bis Office during
=" the school year commencing on the first
3" day of AwI next after his election"
That is 10 say, this year, tho several super
interdents elected at tho Match meetings
enter upon the duties of their Office to-day
April Those in Office from the first
Tuesday of March until April /, being
those elected the previous year.
The school law of 1874 did not alter the
term of office but left it to begin and end
with the school year as before, but il made
it the duty of the town superintendents TO
meet annually on the third Tuesddy Of
Narch at the county court house in each
coun,y-except in Bennington county,
where the meeting 10 to be held at the town
house in ArliDgton-to agree upon set of
questions "to be used throughout the county
" in the written examination of teachers"
and to fix the standard Of qualifications Of
teachers for the ensuing year. 1t will be,
noticed that the superintendent, chosen in
March, does not become a superintendent
until April 1, while the county convention
must be held on the third Tuesday Of
March. Whether this WAC an oversight of
the law makers we cannot say, but the law
is plain. 1t may have been intentional and
designed so that the superintendents, iu
preparing questions and fixing the standard
of qualifications, might have the benefit of
years experience. However this may be
it is plain that superintendent elected in
March were, by virtue of that election, not
entitled to participated 10, the annual meet
ing, because they were simply private citi-
zens, not superintepden!s nf schools.
True il is, however, that both last year
year and this, individuals elected superin-
tendents of schools in March, but still
simply private citizens, attended meeting
appointed to be held by statute, took part
therein, and, moreover, were elected statu-
tory officers. It is plain that they were
not legally members of the county conven-
ton, and were ineligible to ofllce--but how
far this may affect the binding force of
their action it is impossible to tell. 1t is,
however, OF some practical consequence,
as the officer so elected Is intrusted with
the duty of performing certain acts at the
expense of TIE state, and i. may be ques-
tonable whether the state auditor has any
right to allow the expenses 30 incurred or
the state treasurer 10 pay the account if
allowed, without special act of the legs-
lature authorizing them so to do.
1t is perfectly evident that there is q
blunder somewhere, and it shows the Ca
pacity of well meaning men TO blunder. 1t
is perhaps true that the law makers made
the first blunder and the action under the
law has been, ever since, series of blum
ders; but the fact that the law was a blum
der makes it none the less of binding force
We see, not alone IN Rutland county, but
all through the state, individuals innocent
ly believing themselves TO be school super
intendents, acting as if they were legally
such, incurrng expenses for the state and
the several towns to pay, and fixing the
status of schools and the qualifications of
teachers for a year, when they have no
more lac"laiahtsra "NStH" pSfblic s6llcbTs.
The people, too, blunder sometimes. If
any qualification whatever is required for q
town oficer-uuless female, an alien, a
MINOR can be legally elected to and dis
charge the duties of,all town olices-th
town of Rutland has been without super
intendent of schools for year. Certainly
the superintendent of last year was not
eligible to that or any other town office,
unless all such Offices can legally be filled
withou. reference to age, citizenship, or
sex. We do not suppose that any particu-
lar harm has been intended or done, but
law is law, and should be respected and
obeyed accordingly. If the law Is blum
der, there is way to correct it but only
the legislature, not individuals or town
meetings, has the power to make the cor
rpction