The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-02-06
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, J
STATE OF TEXAS,
Austin, February z, 1879. )

Ausbiu, cDEudig 4, 1919. J
To his excellency, o. NJ. Roberto, Governor Of
the State of Texas:
l haYe the honor to acknowledge re-
ceipt of your favor of the third instant,
| asking for information with reference
to expenditures IN the support of our
public free school establishment, ana
in reply specially State ss follows:
l. Excepting the Board of Education
and the secretary thereof we have I'M
| der the present school law four classes
of officers charged with duties in con-
nectinn with its administration, viz:
Judges, county treasurers, assessors and
clerks of the respective counties of the
State. OF these officers there is only
one whose services can be entirely dis
pensed with without detTiment 20 the
public school interest, tO-wlt: the
county clerk. Tie duties required of
this officer under the school Law, which
| are simply the fling and recording OF
certain papers can be imposed on the
county judge without increasing the
official labUrs of said officer, for there
need be no further RECORD of the pa
pers referred to than Is now required
OF the county judge.
2. The results sought to be accom-
plished by means of our public school
system can he more effectually attained
by the following amendments to the
school law:
FIRST amendmeut-R quire assessors
to make return of the scholastic popu-
lation of their respective counties on
or before til u 8 day of june Of each
year. w
Second 2tnendment. - r qnires
county judges to forward abstract of
scholastic population of their respec-
tive counties t. the Department of
! Education On or before the fifteenth
day of June Of esch year.
Third amendment.-Rt quire the
Board of L iuca'ion to declare the ap
portionment Of the available school
fund to the several Counties OF the
State on The first day Of July of each
wear. These amendments would enable
| county Judges TO make their sppor-
| tionment', and to notify trustees of
the sum aarrcdlted to their respective
commute IN time for trustees to
J employ ( chers before the beginning
of the d Ioisstic year. As the Law
Is now, Board OF Education cannot
meke bpportionment of the school
fund I'M the first day OF Ssptem Der,
and he in many instances month
or everr4n9re of the school year has
passed before trustees are apprised as
to whs. amount of fund they will re-
ceive are conc quently delayed in
making contracts for opening their
school.
Fourth Charge the
count judges With the duties imposed
by thu present school law upon C unity
clerks
Fifth Regulate the
compensation allowed county judges
for lervices in the administration Of
the seaool law according to the amount
OF Tmds dIsbursed in support of put
| lIc Shoots.
Sixth amendment-Establi a min
imrn average daily attendance which
mut be maintained in order to guar
anee continu ition OF the school.
seVenth appointment Authorize
county judges TO spportion the school
fuui of their respective counties TO the
Organized school communities to the
ex fusion Of the unorganiZed popula-
tid.
fhls amendment would utilize the
euife fund aud would secure 10 such
asdesire 10 avail themselves OF the
beshts of the law longer school
ten.
E ghth smendment-Classify certii-
ckes granted TO teachers isto three
sades, and establish compensation ac-
.ordingly; allowing teachers holding
frat class certificate not more tLan
Q per pupil; teachers holding 3 Sec
nd class certificate no. more than
/ 80, aud teachers holding q third
lass certificate not more than 81 per
mouth.
! y nth embodiment - An.hoTizs the
Board Of E-a-,t-t.1 70 sppOint.a county
superiatendeat of Pos-fe schools. for
such counties IS receive 5000 or over,
for support Of public schools. Let
said suDeFintendents receive as &
salary 10 per cent. upon the sum
disbursed for public school purposes;
Pr0ridsa, in 20 event should the |
salary allowed exceed $500 per an
nun, the szid superintendent should |
be bonded otnccs.
No department Of government IL IS
dependent upon constant and inssll.-
gent Supervision for success IS the
school department, both II county and
IN State.
Il matters not how excellent msy be
our school stalute1. If We have nos e.
asIsnt and EsslouI supsEvisicn, the re-
l.