The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-03-27
OUR COMMON SCHOOLS.
Important Circulars Sent Out From the
Educational Department.

superintendent of Schools Stetson will
send out, April 1, two circulars which
will be read with pleasure by the eduoa-
tional people of the state They are as
| follows:
| A careful perusal of the following de-
clslons Will, in many cases, prevent
school officers from committing errors
and Will render unnecessary much or the
present correspondence with this depart
ment.
The following expenses, only. may be
paid from the Common School Fund, viz:
| 1.-Teachers' wages and board.
2.-Janitors' services.
3.-Transporting scholars to and from
school when ordered by experimenting
school committee.
4.-Fuel.
5.-Necessary apparatus and appliances
mot text-books) for the use OF schools.
Money raised for the support OF COM
mon schools cannot be used for the main
tenanoe of free high schools.
The expense of school superintendent,
of text books, repairs, Insurance, etc.,
ect., must be paid from other sources
than the Common School Fund.
Towns can draw from the state in aid
of Free High schools, one-h half of, the
sum actually expended for teachers
wages and board, not to exceed $3.50 in
any one year.
Attention is called to the following
sections in the school laws Of Maine, and
to the penalty attaching to towns for not
expanding their school fund:
Section &c very town shall raise and
expend, annually, for the support of
schools therein, exclusive of the income
of any corporate school fund, or of any
grant from the revenue OF funds from
the state, or of any voluntary donations
devise or bequest, or of any forfeiture ac-
cruing to the use of schools, not less than
eighty cents for each inhabitant, accord
ing to the census by which representa-
tives TO the legislature were last appor-
toned, under penalty of FORGETTING not
less than twice nor more than four times
the amount of it's deficiency.
Section when the governor and
council have reason to believe that a
town has neglected to raise and expend
the school money required by law, or
faithfully to expcnd the school money re-
ceived from the state, they shall direct
the treasurer of the state to withhold
further payment to such town from the
state school fund and mill tax until such
town satisfies them that it has expended
the full amount of school money required
by law.
The powers and duties which primarily
inhere in the board of experimenting
school committee, the exercise and per-
formance of W hich it may properly i'm
pose upon the superintendent. either
absolutely OF under such conditions and
limitations as 1T may prescribe, and
which powers and duties the superintend-
ent can not exercise and perform except
when directed by the board are as fol-
lows:
Ito examine, certificate, and employ
teachers.
2.-To select and purchase text books
and appliances, and to have care of the
same.
s.-To provide fuel and utensils for the
schools.
4-To have custody and care of school
houses and superintend authorized re-
pairs.
$40 direct truant officers in the per-
formance Of their duties.
SO determine what description of
scholars shall attend each school classify
them, and transfer them from school to
school.
The powers and duties inhering in the
board which it cannot properly exercise
and perform through the superintendent
are:
Ito suspend the operation of schools
when the scholars to attend are too few
for it's profitable maintenance and TO
authorize the transportation of those
scholars to other schools at the public ex
pense.
2.-To determine the number, begin
ming and length of school terms.
3.-To dismiss teachers who prove unfit
or whose services they deem Improbable.
ITO expel from the school obstinate
ly disobedient pupils
5.-To recommend the abolition OF
change in the location of schools.
6-To improve plans for new school
houses.
Ito fill vacancies.
When a vacancy is filled as provided in
section Sc Of the school laws, the person
so elected shall be entitled to serve fol
| the remainder of the term for which the
| member of the board was chosen whose
place he was elected to fill.