Morning journal and courier., 1889-10-28
COMMUNICATIONS.
Free Text Books.

It is desirable that the interest awakened on the subject of ''fres text books" should lead to good results for both schools and tax payers. The State by certain enactments has made it the duty of towns to establish and maintain public schools. Every town or school district is by law authorized to add, by means of tax, to the money provided by the school fund and appropriated from the treasury of the State, whatever may be neces- sary for generous support of the schools.
 The objects for which taxes may be i'm posed are clearly indicated in the general statutes. [Title Il, chapter 5. "EverY school district shall be body corporate and shall have power to build, purchase, hire and repair school houses, and supply them with commodations; to establish schools in differ ent grades las our grammer schoolsl; to pur. chase globes, maps, blackboards and other school apparatus; to establish and maintain a school library; to employ teachers, and pay the wages of such teachers; to lay taxes and borrow money for ali the foregoing purposes" But the board of education uses money for many objects not indicated or implied in the language of the law. The general custom of the country is fair interpretation of the statute. That is not to supply pupils and teachers gratui- tously with all kinds of stationary, drawing paper, pens, pencils, etc. Such a use of money is not known in the State generally. The superintendent, principal and teachers of the New Haven district receive large salaries for forty weeks service-the superin' tendent with his clerk, receives more than $1oo week, or $so day, the principals s6o CTS ~'fr from or ss.so to ;5 As dsy day. From these generous salaries they ought to provide their own stationery; and there is no law which authorizes the district to furnish these supplies to the scholars, which, with printing-much of which is unnecessary-is an annual expense of from $4 ,0c0 to 6,0OO. It is now proposed to add to these gratuitous supplies text books, to be paid for by an in- crease of tax, at probable cost of $4e, ,000 But there is no law authorizing the board of education to do this. At the session of the legislature in 1886 "an act concerning free text book and school supplies" was passed as follows: "Any town at its annual town meeting may direct its school visitors or board ot education or town committee to purchase, at the expense of said town, the textbooks and other school supplies used in the public schools of said town to be loaned to the pupils of said public schools free of charge" etc. The board of education there- fore can not lawfully order "free text books" or pay for them. If done at all 1t must be QOn0 DY In6 tOWu ID tu6 auuuoi tOWA L06ob- ing, and books and supplies must be pur- chased at the expense of the town. In the opinion of some the board of education has become an incerrigibls body; the head of g school "ring," utterly regardless of law. Apparently 1t has yet to learn that the laws are designed both to direct and restrain those who hold official re- lations to the schools. la sleoting new mem- bers of the board let them be pledged to a
 IL ~e nfAk{ <r Akn
 agenent of public schools, and to legiti- mate and economical use of the school money. A distinction should be made be- tween things necessary and things eonvsn- ient. Telephones, pencil eharpeners, gradua- tion music Tat which the taxpayers do not dance] might be omitted. Why should tax payers foot bill of two hundred and forty dollars for horse keeping, besides large sum for Gravel, horse hire, etc.," unless the horse Is in training school. Why should school money be used to purchase cyclos- tyle, an invention not yet reported in Web- ster's unabridgedi
 It is fair conclusion, from . careful read ing of the laws relating to public schools, that they were designed to secure gratuitous instruction only in those English studies a practical knowledge of which will best qual- ify the young for the ordinary business of life. While the State obliges towns to main- tain eucn SCnO0l6, 1e auCnOflZeS Dy 6tAGute the establishment of high schools as follows: ''In addition to the schools required, etc., Tby Title il, 0. g., every town may establish and maintain schools of higher grade * purchase, build and repair school-houses, levy taxes for the purposes herein named and adopt regulations for the management of such schools. Every town may choose by ballot committee of not more than five resi- dents of the town, who shall have all such powers and duties in relation to such schools | as are, by law, imposed on district commits tees in relation:to district schools" Statutes,
 title Ii, chapter s]. The High school is not | therefore branch of the common school.
 It can ouly be established by the town
 managed by the town, and maintained by g
 town tax. It is not by law under the control of the board of education. Many things con-
 nected with the present conduct of that l school show an extravagant and unlawful l use of school money.
 l These things are net written fin 8 spirit oi
 opposition to our public schools, but to call
 attention to the laws enacted for their prcpe, | government, of which the board of educa
 tion has beeh fagrantly and consistently
 neglecbful. The efficiency of the schools 1T giving better, more thorough English edu
 cation should be increased, even if 1t should require the relinquishment of tho olassisa department of the High school.