Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-12
Members of School Boards Will Here
after Be Sworn to Abide by
the Constitution.
NAY FORFEIT APPROPRIATIONS
Merely by Neglect of the DirectOrsstO Live
Up to the Letter of the Law
and Their 0athS.
MUCH COMMENT BEING INDULGED.IN
Men Of Honorable Intent VIII Do Their Duty Whether
Sworn to Do So or Not.

The State appropriation to be divided be-
tween the public school districts ofPennsyl-
vania is now s. 100000 and it is more an item
of interest than usual The fact that House
bill No. SIS had been passed suddenly
dawned upon the members of the Brushton
School Board, and they having organized
were in a stew, the fear that some of them
were laid liable TO the penalty of the law
causing them to hustle toward special
meeting to settle their status. They breathed!
more freely, however, after an investigation.
Hon. E. E. Cotton, when asked for an opin-
ion read the bill in answer, but came to the
conclusion that the view taken by the Cen
tral Board of Education was correct and
that the bill does not take effect until next
wear In brief, the enactment requires that
an school directors must be sworn before.
entering upon the discharge of their duties,
and. as it specifies that this must be done
from and after the passage of the act by all
elected, it subsequently, led to uneaSiness re-
garding the date of passage.
What Must BE Sworn To.
School directors must swear to perform all
their duties as prescribed by the school laws
Of the State They must swear that they
have not used any unlawful means to secure
the office, and further that they will support
the Const tuition of the State and that of the
United States. They must make an affidavit
before a Justice of the Peace ora Notary
Public a copy of the oath to be forwarded to
the Department of Public Instruc-
tion to be filed and a minute of the
swearing to be entered in the records of
the local board. Any violation of the law
works forfeiture of the State appropria-
tion, which in this city amounts to the neat
little sum of 100000 or more for her schools
In addition to this forfeiture a failure on the
part of q director to comply makes him
guilty of a misdemeanor.
1t will be seen that the law provides a
strong incentive to the people of each dis
trict to keep the directors up to the mark, as
a violation by one forfeits the appropriation.
What caused the commotion in some sec
tions was the impression that their new
boards had not organized before the ap-
uroval of the act but the Central Board de-
cides that only those elected next year must
comply with the law, though the Secretary
acknowledged that he wasn't sure but that
he thought not, however, baSing his reason
on the reading of the act.
What Is TO BE Found in Office.
1t would seem scarcely fair TO make those
elected next year swear, while some already
in escape and, perhaps, have been elected by
means more unlawful. Whether true or not,
1t is believed that some people see great
deal more in school dictatorship than the
average unsophisticated citizen does. In
the first place il is regarded by some a
stepping-stOne to political office which leads
TO the securing OF loaveS and fishes and
there have been rumors of considerable
amounts of money having been spent to
secure the office in times past,
ardent desire for the public welfare. One
case was reported some years ago in which
1t was limited that man had paid 500 to Sc
cure the office which on the square wasn't
worth anything except to one who felt that
he had mission to improve the morale and
efficiency of the schools.
IN districts where the people are deeply
interested in the schools the path of the
crooked director will be beset with thorns,
as the possible loss of the State appropria-
tion will be an added incentive to those who
are disposed to watchfulness.
Meeting With General Satisfaction.
In Pittsburg very little seems to be known
nbout the provisions of the bill. The section
providing for the administration of the oath
of office to school directors, however, seems
to meet with general satisfaction. Chief j.
o. Brown, of the Department of Public
Safety, IA prominent school director and
member of the Central Board of Education,
said:
"The provision for swearing in school
boards is certainly just one. A school di-
rector occupies a responsible position, just
as any other official. and should be REQUIRED
10 take the oath for the faithful performance
OF his duty"
Mayor Gourley said: "a school director
ship Is public trust just as much as any
other office. The man who holds it has the
disposition of the peoples money and bust |
lection raised to his being sworn into Office
City Clerk George Booth, who is Secretary
of the Franklin School Board, said: at will |
make very little difference whether the |
school directors are sworn or not. The fact
= an honest man will faithfully perform the |
duties of his office without any oath, while n |
rascal will care no more for his pledge than
n straw. / would as soon take the word as
the sworn statement of an honest man. Nev-
ertheless there can no harm result from the
swearing of school directors and few will
object to it,
The Board OF Directors of the Riverside
school, Tbirty-fourth ward, met on Wednes-
day evening and elected the officers of the
board for the ensuing year. p. J. Daley was
chosen President; John Collins, Secretary
and John }. Murray. Treasurer.
The annual picnic of the school will be
held at Mckee'S Rocks on Friday June 26
At a meeting o; the Board of Directors of
T.he Morse Sub-District School, Twenty-fifth
ward held on Wednesday evening John
Mchain was elected to fill vacancy in the
board created by the resignation OF Henry
StOlZenbach.