The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-07-20

the face OF the law thdt creates III cof
porate BODY and defines its powers and
obligations.
But let us also quote briefly some law
ON this important subject. 1t will be
found in sections -, - and % of the
common sehool law, pag. ~, :, Met lei
hams digest. as follows:
II is the duty IL the county hoard If
instruction Ia select and provide sta.
for zach sehOol house Of nut less than one
acre VI ground i'm the rural districts. and
~ nearly that amount ~ psactnabie IN
the villages Or cities; the situation Ia In
dry, airy, healthfui and PHEASANT, als.'
reasonably central AMI convenient Of ne
esss for all who attend the sehooI.
Again: ''ro Is.rf 1rm all acts reason
aide AMI necessary for the promOtion At
the educational interests Of the county,
and the general diffusion Of knowledge
among the citizens.'
See. -. 1.-The ta,ard Of public instruc
tion for each county shall do whatever
they may Judge expe,lient with regard
tn purchasing Or renting school sites aud
premises, constructing, repairing, fur
nish,ng, warming, vsntilating. keeping
in order. ar improving the school houses.
outbuil,iings. fences. lands and movable
property, procuring the app tratus, text
isoks fOr the schools. books and station.
cry for the teachers use. establishing
schools 81 higher grades Of instruction
where the advancement and number III
pupils require them, AMI establishing
and maintaining school libraiies.'
Among the general duties Of the SUI
perintendent il 10 expressly provided thar
he shall visit each school once a term
and examine its affairs, excite interest
in education, confer with trustees, watch
over the school interests and act instead
Of the school hoard when it shall, from
any cause, disregard the pubic good. or
neglect 10 establish and maintain free
public schools.
We might 90 on and cite section after
section, but We have quoted enough, We
think. 10 show that, instead 81 the law
taing defective, rs stated by Fair Play"
it is most ample and complete. The
Trouble Is not with the law. but its ad-
ministration. II il were piled mountain
high II could be % no benefit to the PEG.
pie without n disposition to enforce il.
Wherever VIZ choose to turn We find am.
pie provision made for common and
graded schools, the purchase and main
tainance ot school sites and buildings,
and all essentials for complete school
system. The fundamental law of the
State declares that provision shall he
made, and II IN the duty II the lpgiisla.
ture IL provide the means. Il il made
obligatory n the State hoard Of public
institution, the State Superintendent, the
county school hoard and county school
superintendent, the school trustees, and
lastly In the corporate law ~ Palatka.
OF what use have We III mOrp law
What good will il do To go on repeating
~ From the State hoard down to the
district trustee, including the authorities
"f falatka. each AMI all. ample power in
given Tor providing and maintaing u
complete system Of popular education.
The trouble is not with the law, hut
the school kard aud school officers.
An ounce VI Nal would make every
thing plain!
But the Tresolutc AMI carping ohjpr.
tons 81 board that will not accept
money when freely rendered to Il by
citizens for school purposes, and a school
building On the condition only that the
"a'd keep it in repair, when the law
creating It M n body corporate, expressly
says il shall receive such things, and fur
thrrnore provides that il shall acquire
and hold real and personal estate, re-
ceive requests and donations, leaves us
with precious little hope that any kind
Of law, however ample, would result IN
the enlargement of our school facilities
or provide means for the better educa
ton Of the school children Of the county
We have the highest respect for "Fai,
Play, as we'll as Justice. but regret t.
sce No high minded a gentleman as oul
esteemed correspondent apologizing fol
the acts Of officials whose powers ar,
ample for doing all that ever Gun b.
done for the promotion Of public and
graded schools in Putnam county
Rather let him turn h,s attention to tn,
business Ut inspiring our school author
tiles with u little of "old Jacksoa's'
zeal for the public cause. Certainl,
enough can bc done to induce them Il
erect school building in the place Of tn,
present one in this city, and thus rcmov,
from the public gaze II structure that i,
not only a standing eye sore, but on,
that the colorcd man who grooms tn,
county suErintendent's horse woul,
scorn to occupy as his place of perma
nent residence.
\ Texans Queer Argument
Attorney General t,atlaul has to lister