Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-02-10
THE NEW EDUCATION BILL.

The bill introduced by the council
committee on education is a revision OF
the present school code with numerous
amendments and additions. 1t was pre-
pared by A. W. Barber. late super
intendent of Yankton county. ct the
request Of the committees on education.
both OF the house aud council and most Of
the members of these committees gave their
personal attention, at frequent interviews
with the reviser, to the details of all the al-
,terations contained In the bill. Mort of
these new features were also talked oyer
and concurred in, within the last few
months, by the superintendents of most OF
the counties of southeastern Dakota. and by
several gentlemen of legal ability interested
10 schools, The chief Justice of Dakota was
consulted upon a number of points before
the revision was undertaken, and he recon.
mended the reviser to perform the task and
do his utmost to render the school law more
consistent and useful.
Hence we submit that the proposed bill
represents the wishes OF the COM
mit,ees on education, and the In
telligence and experience of many
gentlemen, who have for years been
zealously interested in the welfare and good
name of the schools of our future state. It
is therefore entitled to consideration at the
hands of the legislature ; and any of our
legislative solons who think to achieve home
popularity BY ignoring the necessity Of i'm
proving the school system, will learn their
mistake by the time they have given the
subject one tenth part of the thought and
study that others have bestowed upon it.
The general designs of the new bill are.
to preserve the main features Of the present
law, routine of business, finances, rights,
powers and duties Of officers, &C., as far as
possible !; to avoid needless changes which
would confuse the unlearned and the for
eigners to clearly explain and define those
parts of the system heretofore left vague
and unsettled; to perfect the systematic
workings Of the present plan, and ell up
obvious omissions ; to protect the rights Of
teachers and pupils to dignity and make
respectable the position of teacher, school
officer and superintendent to hold every
member of the system to q strict account
ability to superior authority, from the low.
est pupil in q country school up
to the territorial superintendent I;
and to expunge from the other
wise admirable statute a chapter which
has SO long been left a blot and a blemish !;
an inexplicible movement ofthe carelessnesa,
and perhaps incompetency Of those who in
flicted upon Dakota the present crude mass
of laundering English and conflicting re-
q%uirenents.
As the bill is quite lengthy and there may
be Legislators so little interested in the edu-
c%ational welfare of their constituents that
they would rather vote it down at once than
take time to read it through and compare
the new with the old law, we give some Of
the features which ought to entitle:.it to their
favorable notice.
The territorial superintendent must rem
der itemized accounts and swear to their
correctness /; and if he appoints a temporary
deputy at his W expense, the appointment
must first be approved by the governor.
The county superintendent must receive
pay quarterly, instead of once a year, and
five cents mileage when required by law to
fravo1 nm hie oA;o;o1 hr,,,
In laying out districts, the people, the I'M.
schooled children, and the superintendent
have extended rights regarding petitions
for changes.
Districts that will not support schools may
be wiped. out and attached to others.
The superintendent shall see that treas
lrers as we'll as clerks keep good records
md make correct reports; this will. guard
'gainst many evils now prevailing.
The practice in vogue among many
of lodging the public examination
nd begging certificates ::at q private inter-
lew. is mel by q change in section twenty
NO.
A certificate may be revoked for good
ause. which il impossible at present.
The limits of district taxation are reduced
rom nveper cent to three.
A person must reside In the district
days before voting while the present
~ requfres nc previous residence.
All former illegal bvt bona .fde elections
I district officers are made valid, for the
Of litigation.
Districts that run in debt, or neglect to
~ their teachers. mist psy ten per cent
interest on all unpaid warrants.
The school house fund. contingent fund