The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-03-09
Pennsylvania School Laws.

fennsylYana Soh0ol Laws
We give below q summary Of the
school law of this state as given in the
report Of Commissioner of Education
of the United States.
ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
"The General Assembly shall pro
vide for the maintenance and support
Of thorough aud efficient system of
public schools, wherein all the child
rem of this Commonwealth above the
age of years may 1be educated, and
shall appropriate at least Sl,000,0O0
each year for that purpose.
Women 2l years of age and up
wards shall be eligible to any Office Of
control or management under the school
laws of this State,'
No money raised for the support of
public schools of the State shall be ap.
propriated to, or used for the support
Of any sectarian school.
Every township, borough, or city
constitutes a school district, but in
dependent districts may De formed
when 20 or more taxable inhabitants
of any township or townships desire
and petition for the formation of the
territory upon which they reside into
a separate common. school district.
No minor under 13 years of age
shall be employed in cotton, wooden,
silk, paper, bagging, or fax factories;
auv owner or employer of, or in any
OF SAID factories,or agents therefor, will
fully or knowingly employing any such
minor shall pay a fine Of $50 for each
offense. No minor between the ages
of 13 and l6 years shall be employed
in such factories longer than 8 calen.
dar months in any one year, and who
shall not have attended school at least
consecutive months within the same
year.
No boy shall be employed in any
mine unless proof be given that he is
~ years old.
LEGAL SCHOOL POPULATION.
The legal school age is from to 21
years.
MINIMUM LENGTH OF SCHOOL YEAR.
The schools of every district must
be kept open at least 5 months in the
year, unless the maximum amount of
tax allowed by law to be levied for
school purposes is insufficient to keep
them open for that length of time, J.. ,., =,
Twenty days constitutes a school
month. r if. s1s.a.f g. 8. ...., -.
PRESCRIBED STUDIES. --,
In every district there must be
taught orthography, reading writing,
English grammar, geography arith-
metic, physiology and hygiene, with
special reference to the effects Of al;
coholic drinks, stimulants, and narcot-
les upon the human system, and such
other branches as the board Of direct.
ors or comptrollers may require. j
G. STATE SUPERVISION. i..us lai
The State superintendent of public
instruction is appointed by the Cover
nor, With the advice and consent Of
two.thirds of the members of the sen.
ate. He holds his office for A years;
decides, without appeal, all controyer.
sizes or disputes which may be referred
to him; gives advice, explanations, con
struction, or information relative to
common-school law; signs orders on
the State treasurer; apportions the
State appropriation for schools; pre-
pares and distributes blank forms; may
appoint of his clerks deputy superiii-
tendent; may remove county superin,
tendents and appoint others in theil
stead, until the next triennial conyen.
tion of directors; and reports, annually
to the Legislature.
| STATE APPROPRIATION. t
The amount of State appropriation
due each district is basel upon the
plumber of taxable citizens, as certified
by the county commissioners al each
triennial assessment, and is paid by
warrant of the State superintendent
on the receipt at the department OF
public instruction of the certificate oi
the president and secretary, approved
by the county superintendent, that the
schools have been kept open accord
ing to law, &C., accompanied by the
statistical report of the school opera
tions during the year.
EDUCATION OF TEACHERS.
State aid is given to ~ norma
schools in as many ''normal-school dis
tricts." The purpose of these schools is
to train young men and young women
as teachers for the common schools Of
the State, and to be entitled to The
benefits OF the State aid each school
must haye at least professors of lib.
eral education and known ability; must
have Buildings containing hall OF
sufficient size to seat at least 1000 per
sons, and class rooms and loding rooms
for at least 800 students; must have
at least 10 acres of grounds; must have
a library and a model school; must ad
nit student alternately, male and
female, from each common-school dis
trict within the counties composing iti
normal district, at cost fixed by the
trustees of the several schools.
County teachers institutes are also
held, for term of at least days an.
nually, in each county of the State.
Special institutes are also held id
the cities of Philadelphia, Pittsburg
and Altoona; and cities of the third
class may hold annual teachers insti
tutes, not subject to the authority oi
the county superintendent.
EDUCATION OF DEFECTIvE, DEPENDENT
AND DELINQUENT CHILDREN.
Provision is made by law for the
education and care OF destitute, friend
less, and vagrant children between the
ages of A and l6 years.
The board of school directors of any
school district having more than co.
600 inhabitants, and having within the
limits OF the city or township, in which
the school district is, 8 or more deaf
mute children OF proper age for attend
ing school is authorized to open anG
maintain special school for the edu