The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-08-08
AN IMPORTANT RULING.
An Expert Teacher of Manual
Training Can Be Employed

Training Can Be Employed
In Free Schools.
Yesterday morning Judge Fillmore re-
ceived through the mail the following i'm
portant ruling from Superintendent o. q.
Cooper:
AUSTIN, July 30, 1889
Messrs. 2. T. Fillmore and A. P. Woodbridge,
Committee from the Austin school Board, Aus
tin, Texas:
GeDtlemen-By your communication of
the 9th inst, you state that the Austin
school board desired to inaugurate
manual training department. in
connection with your schools, that you
wish instruction in manual training to be
given during school hours by an expert,
apparatus being specially secured for the
purpose, and you ask If there is any
prohibition in the law against your pay
ing the salary of such expert out of the
general revenue, which you derive for the
support of the schools out of the state
and local taxation.
In reply, beg to advise you as follows:
There is no provision in the Constitution
of the state or of the general school law
which limits the SCOPE of instruction in
public free schools. On the other hand
the general law fixes, as a minimum GER
tain subjects such as "Othogra ply"
"Reading in English" "Penmsnship," etc.
and allows trustees to fix upon other
branches, or the state superintendent to
direct that instruction be given in other
branches. The powers possessed by the
boards of trustees in independent school
districts are more extensive than those in
ordinary school districts. By sec. 6, of
the act of 1879, page rs, it is prescribed
that said "bosrd of trustees shall
have and exercise exclusively the
same powers, control, management
and government of and over such public
free schools and institutions of learning
in such cities and towns as are now or
hereafter may be by law conferred upon
the council or board of aldermen of such
cities or towns where such council or
board of aldermen are invested with the
control of such public free schools"
The powers of the council or board of
aldermen as defined in Article 1887, Re-
vised Civil Statutes, are as follows: "The
council or board of aldermen of such city
or town are invested with exclusive
power to maintain, regulate, control and
govern all public schools now established
or hereafter to be established within the
limits of said city or town, and they are
furthermore authorized to pass such or
dinances, rules and regulations, not incon-
sistent with the Constitution and laws, as
may be necessary to establish and main
tain free schools, purchase building sites,
construct school houses and generally
promote free public education within the
limits of their respective cities and
towns"
Thu establishment of a department of
manual training in the public schools of
the city of Austin is held generally to
promote free public education" within the
limits of the city. According to my view
of the matter, therefore, there can be no
question that the board of trustees of thu
city of Austin will have the right TO pay
the salary of such expert rs it may be
necessary to employ to give manual train
ing in the schools from the funds derived
from the state and local taxes for the sup
port of the schools. Very respectfully,
Signed OSCAR ID. COOPER,
State Superintendent Public Instruction.