South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1896-07-23

AT the last meeting Of the Board
OF Education of Sherman District,
Hampshire county, w. Va, Jnly
4th besides the general business
transactions. they also did som-
legislation on their own account.
The following two acts were passed
by them:
Act ist. On motion it was or
dered that the schools shall be
Taught Eve months this year.
We thought the State Legislature
had passed the above act nearly two
years ago. Is it possible that the
Board was not aware OF this before
they sat upon it?
Act Pad That the teachers shall
build their fires, chop their wood
&c, without extra charge. On
motion it is ordered that no claims
be allowed for chopping wood,
building fires, &c. q
Now, | want to enlighten the
Board in regard to this act of
theirs. / will now call the atten.
ton OF the Board to the following
portion Of she School Law, Page 81.
Section 81:
GENERAL DUTIES OF TEACHERS
AND SCHOOL OFFICERS:
"All teachers, boards of education
and other school officers are hereby
charged with the duty of providing that
moral training for the youth of this
state which will contribute to securing
good behavior and manners, and furnish
the state with exemplary citizens. II
shall also be the duty of every school
trustee to see that the school house is
kept clean and in good order and that
fires, when necessary, are made and
kept therein. but no expense shall be
incurred therein to exceed fifty cents
per week. and the amount thus expend.
ed shall be certsfied by the trustees to
the board of education, and shall if
correct, be paid out of the building fund
of the district. -
Now this is what g. G.. Watts.
Attorney General, says in regard to
the above provision. Page 3S.
81. lam of opinion that under the
foregoing provision, trustees have the
power to incur the expenses therein
provided for, and that where il is nee
essary, in order to comply with the re-
qulrements of said provision. they not
only have the power, but il is their inn
perative duty to incur the expense nee
essAry to that end-not exceeding fifty
cents per week. l am further of opin-
ion that, upon proper certificate of the
expenditure of such amount being fur
nished the board of education of the
district in which such expenditure is
made, it will be the duty of said board
to provide for the payment of the same
ont of the building fund of the district,
provided, of course, the account is cor
rect
The board of education can make no
order by which this power of duty can
be taken from the trustees. The law on
this subject is explicit, and contem
plates specific compliance therwith.
There is no conflict between the above
quoted provisions and other provisions
of chapter 10. The board of education
have the power of revisal and correc-
ton as TO this provision, to the extent
Of seeing that the amount expended is
correct, but not To the extent Of multi
flying plain provision of law"
| think that if the board OF edu.
cation will examine the State School
law closer they will find ont that it
is not in their POWER TO nullify any
act of the Legislature.
l have written this simply in the
interest of education and without
any personal feeling IN the matter.
y. y. Y.