The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-09-24
For Township Unit Schools.

L - W
A petition is being circulated in this
township, the purpose Of which is to a.
bolish the district system of school 8
and substitute the township unit un der
what is known as the Wagner law.
The petition, to confer any authority
upon the township board to act In the
matter, must be signed by a majority
OF the electors of the township as shown
by the registration of voters, and that
our readers may know whether it is adj
visable OF not to sign the petition we
give below concise statement of the
law:
Section provides for the organiza-
ton of an organized township into o
single district upon petition to the
township board therefor signed by o
majority of the electors of the township.
Upon receipt Of such petition the town
board and school inspectors are to meet
and compare names on the petition
with the registration list of the pre-
ceeding election and declare the result.
If it be found that majority have
signed the petition the township be-
comes q single district, and it then be-
comes the duty of the township board
to give notice that at:the ensuing annual
township meeting officers will be chos-
for such organized school districts.
Section 2 provides that the officers OF
such school district shall consist of two
trustees, who, together with the clerk
and school inspectors, shall constitute
the board of education of said district.
Section provides that the members
of the board of education shall meet to
organize on the third Monday of April.
The inspector whose term Of Office ex-
pres first shall be president of the
board and shall be entitled to vote ia
all cases. The township clerk shall be
ex -officio clerk of said board and en-
titled to vote, and said board shall ap-
point one of its members treasurer.
Section gives such board authority TO
designate and purchase school.house
sites, erect buildings and furnish same,
employ teachers, provide books for dis
trict libraries, make bylaws relative
to taking census OF all children of
school age in such district, and to make
all necessary reports so that the dis
trict may be entitled to its proportion
of primary school fund; to make all
needful regulations relative to visitation
of schools, to the length of time schools
shall be kept, to the employment of
legally qualified teachers, relative to
the regulation of schools and the books
to be used therein, and generally to do
all things necessary to the prosperity Of
the schools.
Section 8 provides that ut each annu-
oil township meeting the qualified cleo.
tors present shall determine the amount
of money to be raised by tax for school
purposes for the ensuing year. In case
the electors neglect to vote such tax the
board of education may determine the
amount.
Section ID provides that all existing
school property in the township shall
bec.me the property of the public
schools OF such township, and all debts
and liabilities shall become the debts
and liabilities of such new district.
Section Is. TheG compensation of
the members of the board Of education
shall be $3.50 per day for each days
actual service. and the clerk and treas
urer such compensation as the board
may determine not exceeding $50 each
per nnnum.
The principal advantage to be gained
from incorporation under this law is
that all taxable property in the town
ship becomes liable to payment Of
school taxes therein. Heretofore, in
sparsely settled townships, the burden
of school taxation fell upon the very
small portion of the property included
in primary districts, and graded dis
tricts were little better off unless incor-
porated by special inactment.
The Capitalization of power over all
the schools of township in one board
has its advantages and disadvantages,
but under the administration Of wise
board there is small doubt that the adj
vantages of the unit system will more
than compensate for any disadvantages.
Quite number OF towns, Daraga a.
mong the number, have already organ.
lied under this law.
THE WORLDS FAIR.