The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-24
BaADwELLs CIRCULAR NO. 10.
IL Ia Creating Sensation Among Pub
lie School Boards.

lie school Boards.
Circular No. IS OF the state school com-
missioner, with regard TO the selection OF
text books by the county school boards, has
caused something of sensation throughout
the state. 1t lays down the law. in double
sense, to the county school commissioner:
and school boards.
The circular informs the commissioner
that the county boards Of education have
the exclusive right TO prescribe what text
book and books of reference shall be used il
the common schools"
The county school commissioner has
neither vote nor voice." says the circular,
In the selection Of the books, "nor Is the
board under any legal obligations TO consult
teachers, patrons or agents"
This power is delegated to the board
alone. Continuing further the commits
| sloner quotes the law to the effect that the
county school boards "shah prescribe" It
Is mandatory upon them TO do so and they
are derelict in their duty II they fail to do
so. They cannot recommend.
The object Of the law is TO secure unifor-
NIFTY IN the school books used throughout
each county. It says when a certain set Of
text books has been selected they shall not
De changed for five years except by vote OF
three-fourths Of the whole board. The rea-
sons for this are obvious. The selection of
books by the school board is not a matter
subject TO review by the grand jury unless
IL can be shown that members OF the board
are liable to the charge of 'inefhciency, in
capacity, general neglect of duty.
or malfeasance or corruption IN Office.
The board has not the right TO prescribe
text books outside of the branches specific
ally mentioned by the legislature as consti-
tutlng the curriculum OF the common
schools. These ranches are photography,
reading, writing, English grammar, geogra-
ply and arithmetic. Any board Drescrib-
ing any text books OF other lines of study
than those named exceeds its authority.
THE Bible shall notsbe excluded from
the common or pu bile schools of the state, -
says the law, but 1t Is NOT mandatory
| whether 1t shall be used in the schools, the
| commissioner says. 1t is merely permissi-
BILE. The state school commissioner init
mates in his circular that he does not con-
slider the law satisfactory one, but be says
be is determined it shall be enforced. The
reason for this peremptory circular at this
time Is the occurrence of scandals in several
counties in the state by reason of the county
school commissioners and school boards
prescribing the use of maps, charts and
other works. which the schools were COM
PEELED to purchase at several times their
value. Bribery has been charged in several
instances.
Supt. Baker Of the Savannah public
schools was asked yesterday what effect this
circular order will have upon the schools OF
Savannah and Chatham county. He re-
piled that 1t will have none whatever.
There is entire uniformity in the text
books used in all the schools Of the county
now, and there is no ground for
complaint on this score. Besides the
Chatham aOhnnl hoard De
tuted under special act of the legislature
and has complete authority over every thing
pertaining to the SCHOOLS of the city and
county. Consequently no complaints of
this character have ever arisen in this
county.