The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-07-19
WHOLE NO. 4S2
Free Text Book Law.

passed at the recent session of the Legisla- |
ture give the more important points of the |
Free Text Book Law:
Sec. 1. The People of the State OF Mich |
igan enact: That from and after June 80, |
1890, each school board of the state shall
purchase, when authorized, as hereinafter
provided, the text books used by the pupils |
of the schools in its district in each OF the
following subjects, to-wit Orthography, |
spelling, writing, reading, geography, arith-
metic, grammar (including language lesson)
national and state history, civil government,
and physiology and hygiene; but text books
once adopted under the provisions of this act
shall not be changed within five years.
Provided, That the text book on the sub
ject of physiology and hygiene must be ap-
proved by the State Board of Education,
and shall in every way comply with section
fifteen of act number one hundred and sixty
five of the public acts of eighteen hundred
and eghty-seven, approved June 8, 1887:
And prouided further, That all text books
used i'm any district shall be uniform in any
one subject.
Sec 2. The district board of each school
district shall select the kind of text books
ION subjects enumerated in section II to be
taught i'm schools of their respective dis
tricts. Prouided, That nothing herein con-
tanned shall require any change in text
books now in use i'm such district. They
shall cause to be posted in conspicuous
place, at least ten days prior to the first an
nual school meeting from and after the pas
sage of this act, notice that those qualified
to vote upon the question of raising money
in said district shall vote at such annual
meeting to authorize said district board to
purchase and provide free text books for
the use of the pupils i'm said district. If a
majority of all the voters as above provided
present at such meeting shall authorize said
board to raise by tax a sum sufficient to
comply with the provisions of this act, the
district board shall thereupon make a list of
such books and file one copy with the town.
ship clerk and keep one copy posted in the
school, and due notice of such action by the
| district shall be noted in the annual report
to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The district board shall take the necessary
steps to purchase such books for the use of
all pupils in the several schools of their dis
trict, as hereinafter provided. The text
books so purchased shall be the property of
the district purchasing the same, and shall
be loaned to pupils free of charge, under
such rules and regulations for their careful
use and return as said district board may
establish.
Sec. 3. 1t shall be the duty of the dis
trict board of any school district adopting
free text books provided for in this act to
make a contract with some dealer or pub
Usher to furnish books used i'm said district
at price not greater than the net whole
sale price of such books.
Sec. 4. The district board of every
school district in the state adopting free text
books under this act shall make and prepare
annually an estimate of the amount of mon
ey necessary to be raised to comply with the
conditions of this act and shall add such
amount to the annual estimates made for
money to be raised for school purposes, for
the next ensuing year. Said sum shall be
in addition to the amount now provided by
law to be raised; which amount each town
ship clerk shall certify to the supervisor of
his township to be assessed upon the taxable
property of the respective districts as pro-
vided by law for raising the regular annual
estimates Of the respective district boards
for school purposes.
Sec. On the first day of February next
after the tax shall have been levied, the
director of said district may proceed to pur-
chase the books required by the pupils of
his district.
Sec. provides for the punishment of
school officers who refuse to purchase books
after the district has voted to have them
and also exempts city districts organized |
under special charter from the provisions of |
the law unless the expenditure is ordered |
by majority vote of the qualified voters at |
the annual meeting.